CHICAGO | Will the Sox leave US Comiskular Rate Field Park?

[left of center]

Any state or federal dollars that might come our way would be much better spent on the 78. The railyard is already serving a purpose, and one that we would be wise to hold on to for aforementioned future transit projects like through running Union, HRS, CrossRail, etc. I hope the complexity and huge infrastructure costs of redeveloping the Amtrak yards keeps any development from materializing. The Sox can move to the 78, south of the Fire stadium.

Originally Posted by ardecila

Maybe this can be achieved by fluffing Trump as Mamdani is trying to do, but I doubt it. And Brandon Johnson certainly ain't gonna be the guy to sit down with the president. Maybe Ishbia would, I dunno.

Trump is a worthless tumor, but the city needs federal dollars. Everyone knows that appealing to his vanity and narcissism is the key to the kingdom. We need a savvy mayor that can play Trump like a fiddle and get the city what it needs.

Regardless of your political leanings (I'm sure most people here aren't fans of POTUS), the sooner BJ is out, the better for the city.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by left of center

Regardless of your political leanings (I'm sure most people here aren't fans of POTUS), the sooner BJ is out, the better for the city.

Is this something JB could help maneuver? Not sure how much say he has here, but I trust JB to get the needle moving on issues before BJ - Regardless of whoever is in charge of DC.

[donnie]

Would be kinda cool if the track were lowered and the stadium built over top. but to say it's going to be an engineering nightmare come on, we forget about 150 North Riverside already! South side has never been so alive if all comes to fruition, sorta reminds me of L.A around the Staple Center!

[OhioGuy]

I hadn’t thought about it previously, but a baseball stadium on the west side of the river would be far from any rapid transit. If rail access is going to be at least somewhat convenient, a new station is a must under the 78 with a new pedestrian bridge to access the west side of the river where a possible Sox stadium would be built.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by OhioGuy

I hadn’t thought about it previously, but a baseball stadium on the west side of the river would be far from any rapid transit. If rail access is going to be at least somewhat convenient, a new station is a must under the 78 with a new pedestrian bridge to access the west side of the river where a possible Sox stadium would be built.

It would be built over the Metra line that runs through there on the BNSF line, a new station would make sense. Additional, both the Blue line Clinton stop and the Red line Chinatown/Cermak stops are only a few blocks north and south of the site.

But the reality is that most people would be driving to any new ballpark at this site.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by sentinel

But the reality is that most people would be driving to any new ballpark at this site.

Maybe in the beginning... But a new stadium there, along with the 78 site and the Fire stadium - There's a ton of potential to tie in several nearby areas that currently feel displaced (I.E. Chinatown).

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by sentinel

It would be built over the Metra line that runs through there on the BNSF line, a new station would make sense. Additional, both the Blue line Clinton stop and the Red line Chinatown/Cermak stops are only a few blocks north and south of the site.

But the reality is that most people would be driving to any new ballpark at this site.

I dunno about this, it's gonna be difficult to provide the same amount of parking at the railyards that Sox Park enjoys in Bridgeport. Land is just very tight, with limited ways to get traffic in and out. By any standard, the new ballpark will need to have more fans arriving by transit than Sox Park does - even though the railyards site is further from rail.

Sox Park already enjoys very good transit access! I think Sox fans will find this new site to be less convenient than 35th/Shields, no matter how they arrive at the game. Is it worth it just to see the Sears Tower over the outfield wall? Just build some mixed-use development in Bridgeport and plan a program of stadium renovations, and Sox Park can easily meet all the criteria for a 21st century ballpark.

Also, Clinton is almost a mile away from the railyards even if the ballpark is at the north end of the site by Roosevelt, and Chinatown is 1/2 mile away even if the ballpark is at the south end of the site by 18th St. Outside of a Clinton St Subway for the Red Line, the best scenario here is a new six-track Metra station at Roosevelt serving BNSF trains and maybe a crosstown service from the Metra Electric corridor to O'Hare. SWS trains are supposed to switch over to LaSalle St Station, but maybe they could run a few SWS or RI gameday specials into Union Station with a stop at the new ballpark.

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by ardecila

I dunno about this, it's gonna be difficult to provide the same amount of parking that Sox Park enjoys in Bridgeport. Land is just very tight at the railyards site, with limited ways to get traffic in and out. By any standard, the new ballpark will need to have more fans arriving by transit than Sox Park does - even though the railyards site is further from rail. I think Sox fans will find this new site to be less convenient than 35th/Shields, no matter how they arrive at the game. Is it worth it just to see the Sears Tower over the outfield wall?

Also, Clinton is almost a mile away even if the ballpark is at the north end of the site by Roosevelt, and Chinatown is 1/2 mile away even if the ballpark is at the south end of the site by 18th St.

Outside of a Clinton St Subway for the Red Line, the best scenario here is a Metra station at Roosevelt serving BNSF trains and maybe a crosstown service from the Metra Electric corridor to O'Hare.

The White Sox themselves say the focus is still on the 78 for a stadium, and the Railyard would be complementary.

White Sox officials said they are still focused on securing a stadium deal at The 78, and whatever Ishbia ends up building on the other side of the river would complement the team’s new home.

“If we’re lucky enough to get the ballpark at The 78 and all of a sudden you have over 100 acres of entertainment district, that’s great for White Sox fans, and that’s great for the economic engine of Chicago,” said White Sox Executive Vice President Brooks Boyer

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/18/white-sox-justin-ishbia-rail-yard/

[Para]

Plans from an Amtrak presentation for the rail yard site have been posted on Twitter by CHGO.

The slides include a stadium rendering.

https://x.com/CHGO_WhiteSox/status/2045247392451104855

[Jstange059]

Originally Posted by Para

Plans from an Amtrak presentation for the rail yard site have been posted on Twitter by CHGO.

The slides include a stadium rendering.

https://x.com/CHGO_WhiteSox/status/2045247392451104855

I have to say I quite like the look of the stadium, though we'll see how it'll be value engineered if it ever gets built at all.

Also, it appears that it is to be built on the 78 side of the river, not on the railyards they are buying, the renderings above is taken from the railyards side of the development and clearly shows it to be being developed into something, though you can't tell the scope of the development other than the fact that it has a riverwalk. The baseball Stadium appears that it will sit just south of the Soccer Stadium.

Additionally it appears that they will restore the Baltimore and Ohio Chicago terminal bridge, just north of the St. Charles Airline Bridge and turn it into a pedestrian bridge

Hopefully with the funds of constricting a second stadium on the site and some of the savings brought by both stadiums sharing infrastructure, we can see a red line station and potentially a Metra station now built. Perhaps we can even see the reintroduction of the previously proposed realignment of the Metra tracks, allowing the 78 to be better connected to the neighborhoods to the east.

They document claims that the new Amtrak yards will be ready for use by Fall this year which seems like a really quick timeline. They also show all of the existing stadium's land (including all the parking lots+the stadium itself) as potential space for a phase 2 expansion of the Amtrak yards.

[Randomguy34]

There are more details in the tweet replies, I copied and pasted the bullet points here. The megadevelopment might be going by the name Canal Edge. This is an extremely aggressive timeline

14th Street Yard (Currently)

• Amtrak is actively trying to move out of the 14th Street yard
• Site is too small, inefficient, and difficult to modernize
• Buildings are spread out and operations are constrained
• Long-term goal is to consolidate operations elsewhere

Canal Street Yard (Key to Relocation)

• Canal Street yard (near Rate Field) is the key replacement site
• Amtrak is in active negotiations with Union Pacific "going well"
• Goal is to begin using Canal by Fall 2026
• Would provide more space, better access, and modern facilities

Ishbia / Canal Edge Role

• Justin Ishbia approached Amtrak in August 2025 about the site
• Ishbia spun Shore Capital into Canal Edge for this project. Canal Edge hired WSP to design new rail facilities for Amtrak.
• Working directly with Amtrak on relocation and track realignment
• Amtrak/FRA described this as an "incredible opportunity" private involvement is seen as a way to speed up the process

Financing Approach

• Ishbia/Canal Edge would help finance new rail facilities. Likely through private funding/loans. Ishbia also likely to use Loans to redevelop site
• Helps accelerate construction and relocation timeline
• Reduces reliance on public funding

Phased Land Release Plan
Phase 1:

• Move most operations out of the main (north) portion of the yard
• That land becomes available, then Ishbia takes it over
• This is the likely new stadium footprint

Phase 2:

• Amtrak keeps a smaller section active in the south railyard temporarily
• Relocate it later and free up the rest of the site for Ishbia
• Part of Ishbia's longer-term plan
• Amtrak possible expansion into Rate Field lots if the team leaves

Timeline Signals

• Canal Yard deal + early use targeted for 2026
• Rail relocation and new facilities through late 2020s
• Land begins freeing up roughly 2027-2029

Sox-Specific Takeaway

• This is a coordinated rail relocation + redevelopment effort, not just a land sale
• Phase 1 land aligns with a realistic stadium footprint
• Ishbia is actively involved in solving the rail constraints
• Timeline fits a potential early 2030s stadium development

[AOA21]

Terrible news for Bridgeport residents and a big loss for the South Side in general if this plan becomes a reality. I don't understand why they can't simply propose a master plan to revitalize the area like the UC developers are doing. The space is there and the surrounding neighborhoods are doing well in terms of real estate. Removing such a big attraction (even if they suck) and replacing it with more industrial property is such a slap in the face for South Siders who want to see the area thrive.

[Chi-Sky21]

Not sure if they could even buy up the old folks home, church and CHA housing that they re did near the parking lots for some reason. THAT is what would be needed for sure.

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by AOA21

Terrible news for Bridgeport residents and a big loss for the South Side in general if this plan becomes a reality. I don't understand why they can't simply propose a master plan to revitalize the area like the UC developers are doing. The space is there and the surrounding neighborhoods are doing well in terms of real estate. Removing such a big attraction (even if they suck) and replacing it with more industrial property is such a slap in the face for South Siders who want to see the area thrive.

Where is the City in all this discussion?

Originally Posted by Jstange059

Perhaps we can even see the reintroduction of the previously proposed realignment of the Metra tracks, allowing the 78 to be better connected to the neighborhoods to the east.

I could be mistaken but thought that ship already sailed with the placement of the soccer field

[Jstange059]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

I could be mistaken but thought that ship already sailed with the placement of the soccer field

If the stadium is to be placed south of the soccer stadium, as it is displayed in the renderings, it will definitely require a rearrangement of the site plan. What that will enable, I do not know, but perhaps it may allow a realignment of the Metra tracks. I can hope, at least.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

Where is the City in all this discussion?

Based on how the Bears' situation was handled, I'm guessing Sox ownership called Mayor Johnson to discuss their plans and it went straight to voicemail.

[Reinsdorf Sucks]

That does not seem like a realistic timeline for Amtrak to move south to the Canal Street Yard. They still need a detailed inspection of all of the bridges going over surface streets down there. Thousands of built-up members with dozens of points of measurement for section loss to do a load rating. That will take a lot of time.

Also those conceptual renderings are confusing! It does imply the stadium is on the 78 side

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Based on how the Bears' situation was handled, I'm guessing Sox ownership called Mayor Johnson to discuss their plans and it went straight to voicemail.

That is one of the players. City also needs to be talking with the Trump administration about Amtrak. The latter appears to be making sure NY's Penn Station is being taken care of.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Reinsdorf Sucks

That does not seem like a realistic timeline for Amtrak to move south to the Canal Street Yard. They still need a detailed inspection of all of the bridges going over surface streets down there. Thousands of built-up members with dozens of points of measurement for section loss to do a load rating. That will take a lot of time.

Also those conceptual renderings are confusing! It does imply the stadium is on the 78 side

I think Ishbia and/or Reinsdorf are maintaining flexibility, the stadium can go on either side of the river depending on how talks with Related Midwest go. If the stadium goes on the east bank, then the west bank becomes a few big parking decks and mixed-use. If the stadium goes on the west bank, then it's more convenient to the parking decks, and the mixed-use goes on the east bank similar to Related's current plans. All with the B&OCT bridge as a pedestrian link between them - that in itself is no small project since the bridge has been frozen in the up position for 45 years.

Good point about the Amtrak move too, I guess you can't hand-wave away the condition of all those Chinatown/Bridgeport viaducts if you're changing the use. Amtrak may need to ask the city for a number of street closures / backfill the viaducts, or the cost of all that bridge work could get into 9 or 10 figures.

[BVictor1]

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/sports-r...shbia-white-sox-stadium-amtrak-20260421/

New details on Ishbia-Amtrak land deal as Sox future takes shape

By
Justin Laurence
April 21, 2026 05:00 AM CDT

New details about Justin Ishbia’s plan to acquire a key South Loop rail yard emerged last week in a university presentation, shedding light on how a deal with Amtrak could pave the way for a future home of the Chicago White Sox.

The presentation, delivered at the University of Illinois Chicago, confirms and expands on Crain’s earlier report that Ishbia is working to relocate Amtrak’s maintenance operations to unlock the site — a move that could set up a long-term redevelopment that may eventually include a new ballpark.

The details were made public in a seminar delivered April 16 by Joe Shacter, Amtrak’s director of program management for the Chicago Hub Improvement Program, to the University of Illinois Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center.

Amtrak is nearing the purchase of Union Pacific’s Canal Yard and could begin moving its operations there as soon as this fall, according to a video of the presentation that has since been removed from the internet.

Included in the presentation were two slides depicting a riverfront ballpark, but the renderings are not up to date or representative of Ishbia’s vision, according to two sources.

That ballpark would be positioned with a view of The Loop from home plate, placing the right field wall adjacent with the river. The right field area would have little to no seating because of the tight dimensions of the site, potentially allowing well-hit baseballs to find a new home in the Chicago River.

Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, said he met with Ishbia’s representatives and Amtrak about the plans, but the presentation was focused on an initial phase near Roosevelt Road centered around a Northwestern Medicine facility.

Amtrak is close to striking an agreement with Union Pacific to purchase its Canal Yard, an expansive strip between Canal Street and Stewart Avenue in Bridgeport, that would provide more space to build a modern maintenance campus, Shacter said.

Amtrak’s real estate team is negotiating the purchase of the two trapezoidal yards on over 60 acres of land in a transaction that could be reached “extremely soon.”

“This is about to happen,” he said.

Both Amtrak’s overhaul of the Union Pacific yard and Ishbia’s plans for the 14th Street site could be eligible for a federal loan program known as Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing, or RRIF, which offers friendlier lending terms than the private market.

Canal Edge, an entity created by Ishbia, submitted an application for a direct RRIF loan of $383 million to support a “Chicago Keeps America Moving” project, according to a federal database. The filing listed a projected eligible project cost of $413 million and an anticipated close date in 2026.

“By definition, having a much larger, much wider and fully covered . . . maintenance facility at Canal will put us light years ahead of where we are today, much more capable of handling additional frequencies,” Shacter said

Moving to the Canal Street yard would place Amtrak’s maintenance operations on the other side of the South Branch Bridge, a concern that is top of mind as Amtrak officials consider the move, Shacter said.

The company plans $25 million in renovations to extend the bridge’s life by 10 years while preparing for an estimated $150 million replacement. There are currently 13 separate options to replace the bridge, including different models or a tunnel.

The bridge has to be raised an average of 1,200 times per year, more than any other in the Chicago River system. Built in 1914, it handles all south and east Amtrak lines, two Metra passenger trains and Northern Southern traffic.

Funding for bridge repairs and replacement is proposed to come from $140 million in federal dollars and $35 million from a mix of local commitments, combined from state, city and county funding as well as Amtrak and Metra.