The new stadium buzz surrounding the White Sox hasn’t been quieting down recently.
According to Bob Nightengale’s Sunday Notebook over at USA Today, Jerry Reinsdorf and the White Sox are currently exploring three sites for a potential move out of Guaranteed Rate Field after their lease ends in 2028:
- The United Center area
- Arlington Heights
- Soldier Field
The move would also potentially come with a retractable-roof stadium – another piece of the puzzle that Reinsdorf is reportedly exploring. It is not yet known if one of these three locations is considered a “favorite” by the White Sox.
The Soldier Field location is likely dependent on whether or not the Bears officially move to Arlington Heights – and the Arlington Heights super-complex between the White Sox and Bears would likely also be dependent on the Bears’ move becoming official. This complex would be similar to something that can be found in Cleveland (Cavaliers/Guardians), Philadelphia (Eagles/Phillies), or Kansas City (Chiefs/Royals).
Last Monday afternoon, Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago released an article detailing Jerry Reinsdorf’s latest quiet series of moves that have included exploring options for the White Sox beyond Guaranteed Rate Field – both inside and outside of Chicago.
Based on the report, everything appears to be on the table – though no decision is considered imminent. The club could find themselves deciding between staying on the South Side, moving to a new location in the city or suburbs, or even relocating – with a move to Nashville referenced in the report. To truly put the idea that “everything is on the table” into practice, Reinsdorf is also reportedly considering selling the White Sox while retaining ownership of the Chicago Bulls.
Previously, the White Sox have responded to these types of reports by saying the following:
“We have not had any conversations about our lease situation, but with six years remaining, it is naturally nearing a time where discussions should begin to take place. The conversations would be with the city, IFSA and the state and most likely would be about vision, opportunities and the future.”
– Scott Reifert (via Crain’s Chicago)
35th and Shields has been a familiar home for White Sox fans over the years, previously watching games at Comiskey Park from 1910-1990 before Guaranteed Rate Field was built in 1991. As a reminder, Jerry Reinsdorf does not own Guaranteed Rate Field – it is owned by ISFA (Illinois Sports Facilities Authority).
However, if with last week’s report there were questions about how legitimate the rumors were, a second rumor this week seems to give this entire conversation a little more validity.
As more information becomes available, we will continue to provide updates.
Featured Image: @SoldierField / Twitter
The Sox have just as many fans in the far west burbs as the Cubs. The guy who claimed that they only exist towards the south is ill informed. I have been going to Sox games for almost 60 years and it’s obvious that these comments come from Cubs fans who have little to zero knowledge about Sox fans and attendance history. I remember placating a friend and attending a game at Wrigley in the late 70s when there was under 800 fans in the stadium. Before you got Harry to move north, Wrigley barely drew flies. The Sox should absolutely stay in the Chicago area but with a privately funded stadium this time. Sox fans have good reasons to despise Reinsdorf, he makes that really easy. Be glad your team owner doesn’t give you those reasons. If the Sox move out of the city to the burbs, Naperville area would make the most sense for location. Staying in the city is only possible at the present location, unfortunately. I don’t mind going there but I know many that do. That number will grow after the recent shootings. To see a ballpark close up after only thirty odd years is really wasteful. I’m against it.
You’re living in the past man
No public money for billionaires’ sports teams.
If they move, and go to The 78, please use the Armour Field model from the old stadium proposals. That field would make Sox Park the best stadium in the country and attract fans in drove for years and all over. I live in DC and would drive back home just to see a game there. Please do something smart and critical White Sox, the fans are waiting. Don’t let the Cubs out do you again.
I think they have alot of nerve after what they spent building the stadium that’s there now ,it’s should be unthinkable to build anew.
Between the Comiskey and Reinsdorf long-term ownerships was Bill Veeck. Adored by fans, Veeck was a showman who entertained with gadgets and distractions. His was truly fun at the old ballpark. And yet, like Comiskey, the fan base hovered around 700,000.
In 1958, prior to Veeck purchasing the team, the Sox drew 797,000 through the turnstiles. During the pennant run in ’59, Sox attendance rose to 1.4 million and1.6 million the year following their World Series guest appearance. In the Roger Maris year, attendance at Comiskey Park dropped over half of million. Reinsdorf fared better after 2005, it only took four full years to fall below the 2005 numbers.
The White Sox of 2021 won the division with 93 wins. Attendance for the playoff bound Sox was a paltry 1,596,000. 2022 soared to over 2 million. This season the franchise sits at 1.2 million. No doubt the Sox have a hardcore following, but that which is needed, the loyalist follower from afar, only attends when the team is fashionable.
History is replete with examples of White Sox ownership, Comiskey, Veeck, Allyn and Reinsdorf, having put quality product on the field to play in front of a half empty stadium. It was not Charles who threw the World Series, it was the eight men out who put the team into four decades of darkness. Charles was “banned for life” by Chicagoans who blamed him for the Black Sox scandal. How azz backward the city was toward its only productive baseball team.
If the team were to relocate to Nashville, I would support the move. Way too many fair-weather fans here. Fans who are constant in complaint, criticism, and who characterizes the team owner, management and players as inept and bargain basement. Really? The owner, management and players show up each day at the old ballpark, which cannot be said of its fan base.
Don’t forget that the 2021 attendance was so during a so called “pandemic”
Arlington Heights is no good. The White Sox fan base is primarily on the south and west sides of Chicago and the south suburbs, not the NW suburbs. Ironically such a move would make the Cubs the “southside” team. The United Center area is a crime-ridden hellscape. No way would anyone spend close to a billion dollars erecting a ballpark there. And Soldier Field is on public parkland, meaning no private funding or ownership of a new ballpark. The city of Chicago still owes $650 million for the previous renovation of Soldier Field; they are not going to throw good money after bad tearing down the stadium and spending additional funds to build a Sox ballpark – especially when Soldier Field can still be used for soccer. With both Chicago and the MLB in decline, can Chicago really profitably support two MLB teams long term? Doubtful. It’s pretty obvious to me that the Sox will likely extend their lease and remain where they short term while seeking a move to another city where the team can become a premiere attraction instead of being Chicago’s “second rate” team.
Reinsdorf recently bought property near United Center. Hmmm
Where? There isn’t much vacant land near United Center
Would the dome be bulletproof?
Where the old McCormack Place is by the lake the Bears should go there and build a Dome Stadium there and where the old Soldier Field is the White Sox go there.and build a Dome Stadium there. The Bears new Stadium should be call McCormack Place Field and the white sox new stadium should be call seven up Park or Field. That what I think.
I would prefer to call it sprite field.
OR: “Teem-Slice-Sierra Mist-Starry Field”
The Bears are moving to the suburbs. They won’t even consider staying in the city after getting jobbed by the park district year after year. Not a chance.
Yes Spirte Field sounds good. But Seven up is good to because the arrow is pointing up not down like Guaranteed rate Field or Coke cola park sounds nice. Pepsi Fied is another one. But my fellow Chicagoans. The Mayor, the governor, the Bears & White Sox Onwers Should get together put there heads together and think very hard and the right thing. If it was I will call there butts and say tear down the old McCormack place put the new Bears Stadium there and tear down the old Soldier field there and put the Sox Stadium there. Chicago will have two Beautiful by the lake front. Oh one more thing for the name of the Bears Stadium also can be called Lake Shore Dive Park? Lol. I love❤️ Ya’ll Chicago. WEEEEEEEE😁😁
The new stadium for the White Sox if it were to be built, should be put up for bid to Chicago Only companies. Tootsie Roll Stadium, Catapiller Park, AON Field, Walgreen’s Field, or something like that.
Best option is to stay in the city for both the Sox and the Bears. The Fire moved back from the suburbs to Soldier for a reason. Half of the people in Chicago don’t drive so a suburban stadium would be a disaster especially as it ages and the teams are bad. Soldier always has great attendance because the stadium is easy to get to like Wrigley and the UC or the Sky and DePaul’s arena WinTrust.
Best spots for both stadiums is where the old McCormick Place is like people were saying or the Sox could play at Soldier. The teams will be on the beautiful lakefront and easy to get to.
The 2nd best option is near the United Center as there plenty of land for a new stadium. I believe this one is the best option for the Sox and McCormick Place for the Bears.
The need to get out of the ghetto and more where people have disposable income. They should team with the bears and move to Arlington. Build 2 stadiums with a atlanta braves “the battery” type road between them, filled with restaurants, bars, shops, a park with movie screen to watch the games without paying and going in, and it’s open year round games or not. I think it would work, just bc we wouldn’t have to drive into Chicago to see a game. It allows people to hangout before and especially after a game, spending more money.
Naperville area works much better for their fans.
Anywhere in the city will be a combat zone. Just look at how crime is dealt with. The mayor is a waste of oxygen. The cops can’t even do their job because of political interference. The move to Arlington Park might be a good option. The mayor of Chicago would be against it. Criminal revenue would take a severe beating. And, criminal spending would cease to exist. Like they pay for anything anyway. Lol.