Developer proposes White Sox and Fire stadiums at The 78

Could another team explore building a new stadium at The 78 site?

That’s what property owner Related Midwest is proposing after officials revealed the University of Illinois’ $300 million technology and research hub, “Discovery Partners Institute,” will not happen at the 62-acre South Loop location. The developer has presented the idea that the Chicago Fire Football Club, which currently plays at Soldier Field, join the White Sox by constructing a new stadium there instead.

Related Midwest remains committed to developing The 78, which continues to have transformational potential for our city.

While we were disappointed to learn of DPI’s decision to exit The 78, its departure opens up opportunities for new partnerships and site configurations, including the current DPI parcel, that were not possible under the previous plan.

Give its proximity to downtown, adjacency to the river and flexibility to accomodate a wide range of uses, The 78 stands alone in its ability to house large institutions that want to plant their flag in the heart of Chicago. We are actively exploring the co-location of dual stadiums for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Fire, two organizations whose presence at The 78 would align with our vision of creating Chicago’s next great neighborhood.

_{from Spokesperson of Related Midwest}

Last month, the White Sox and Related Midwest built a temporary baseball field at the site of a potential new ballpark to drum up interest in potential investors. While it did impress, minds haven’t apparently been changed regarding the requested $1 billion in public funding, perhaps necessitating this display that was created in part by head groundskeeper Roger Bossard. Luckily for the Fire, owner Joe Mansueto has said the team would privately finance a new stadium, making their path much clearer if they choose to develop in the South Loop.

The White Sox’s current plan puts a new ballpark in the center of the action, with a Petco Park-esque vibe among the renderings. The stadium would lay right along the river and ensure a skyline background. It would also be part of a larger “ballpark village” that is reminiscent of what the Braves and Cardinals currently have, which could become even more interesting if the Fire build nearby.

The economic impact of the White Sox has been projected as follows:

• $9 billion economic investment in Chicago
• $4 billion stabilized annual economic impact
• $200 million annual stabilized tax revenue
• 10,000+ construction jobs
• 22,000+ permanent jobs

Rumors of Arlington Heights, the United Center, and even Nashville have sprung up before the talks of a South Loop stadium at The 78 picked up steam. Commissioner Rob Manfred and the Chicago Federation of Labor expressed their support for this plan, and ESPN radio host David Kaplan has said in the past that the stadium was ” basically a done deal.” The debate on public funding remains the primary hold-up at this stage, with Governor  J.B. Pritzker strongly against the idea, saying “taxpayer dollars are precious” and that he’s “really reluctant” to subsidize such a project.

As a reminder, the White Sox’s current lease for Guaranteed Rate Field does not end until after the 2028 season, but there is still be plenty of work necessary to get a new stadium ready by 2029. Things continue to be far from a sure thing, so we will monitor these new developments.

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Featured Photo: Related Midwest