CHICAGO | The 78 Site

[Chisouthside]

I think this will get people more engaged and encourage them to have fun with the name much like US Cellular was nicknamed The Cell. I already imagine people calling this the big mac field.

[Steely Dan]

Stupid corporate stadium names/branding are still trillions of light years better than giving 9 or 10 digits of public money to fucking billionaire sports team owners.

"Mcdonald's Park" is fine.

[ardecila]

^ Exactly. The sponsorship rights and advertising are a key part of making these deals work without taxpayer money.

Everyone complained about the huge Budweiser and Wintrust signs at Wrigley, but the Ricketts had to make the numbers work somehow without any city or state money.

[Jstange059]

Progress is being made

[cloudbod]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Stupid corporate stadium names/branding are still trillions of light years better than giving 9 or 10 digits of public money to fucking billionaire sports team owners.

100% agree.

[left of center]

The nice thing about the Fire building their stadium here rather than the Bears or White Sox is that it will fit in the dimensions that has been boxed in by the Wells-Wentworth connector, which was built prior to the great Chicago stadium reshuffling, when the 78 was supposed to be mostly residential. Glad the infrastructure wont be going to waste.

[r18tdi]

Some fresh aerial shots: https://youtu.be/ys_eDbTaKcQ

[BVictor1]

It's my understanding that this project will have two tower cranes.

The base is in place for at least one of them.

I didn't have the best perspective.

05.24.26

[Randomguy34]

At yesterday's Sandhouse Rail Meeting, Metra mentioned that for the original plan to realign the RID tracks, they were hoping to install platforms for a future RID station at the 78. Since the realignment is now abandoned, they still would like add platforms but it'll be difficult cause of the lack of funding and grade-crossing with SCAL. Real shame, this would have been a great hub for transferring between the Red Line, RID, and future Wells/Clark St buses

Edit: managed to get a recording, the question about the 78 station was asked at 1:52:35 - https://metrarr.granicus.com/player/clip/1382

[ardecila]

Yeah the 78 is part of the LaSalle station throat which is triple-tracked, so they need a side & island platform, pedestrian overpass, elevators, etc. I guess they could bootstrap something with a single quick and dirty side platform if Related will contribute a strip of land, but operationally it could only serve a handful of trains. I think eventually they will need to do a pedestrian overpass around 15th to provide access into The 78, they can hang elevators off the bridge like the Roosevelt Museum Campus stop on Metra Electric.

I still think the decision not to re-align is the most disappointing thing about the current 78 plans. Zero east-west connection, which is awful with new attractions coming at The 78 and now at the Amtrak railyards as well.

[CrazyCres]

Tower crane was being put up today

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by CrazyCres

Tower crane was being put up today

That it is... One of two.

06.01.26

[BVictor1]

06.06.26

[BVictor1]

06.20.26

[Jstange059]

Exciting to see construction officially above grade!