A new stadium for the White Sox continues to gain steam.
Yesterday, Crain’s Chicago Business published an interview with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in which he gave his support for a new White Sox stadium at “The 78” in the South Loop, calling the plan a “game changer” for the White Sox.
Per Crain’s:
“Manfred said what’s particularly solid about the proposal is the ‘proximity to downtown’ it would bring a team that now plays several miles to the south in a neighborhood that pretty much shuts down after dark. ‘Baseball has always worked well close to downtown,’ which offers not only other entertaiment options but good transit and highway access. ‘I’m supportive,’ Manfred added. ‘A new facility could be agame changer for the White Sox.'”
– Rob Manfred (via Crain’s Chicago Business)
Manfred did mention he had a conversation with Reinsdorf, which comes not long after the White Sox received support from the Chicago Federation of Labor for a project such as this.
Funding has been the most recent topic of conversation surrounding the stadium. A recent Crain’s report stated that the White Sox are likely to ask state legislators to empower the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to either extend or issue new bonds backed by the existing 2% hotel occupancy tax that is currently used to satisfy the bonds issued to pay for Guarantee Rate Field. It wouldn’t raise a new tax but would extend or potentially issue new bonds. In his interview, Manfred suggested there could also be MLB funding that comes indirectly to the White Sox for the stadium.
“Manfred said MLB would not directly finance the stadium but provide an indirect subsidy. Under league rules, stadium development costs are automatically deducted from required team revenue-sharing payments, he said, so the Sox could effectively have some of their costs covered by the league.
– Rob Manfred (via Crain’s Chicago Business)
This would be yet another win for the White Sox when it comes to building a new stadium. With all of the reports coming out, going up even to the commissioner now, it appears this is Jerry Reinsdorf’s main plan for a new stadium.
As a reminder: the White Sox’s current lease for Guaranteed Rate Field does not end until after the 2028 season.
We will continue to provide updates as additional details are made public.
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