There may be a few more balls in the air at The 78 than just the Chicago Fire’s proposed $650 million soccer stadium.
In the wake of Tuesday’s announcement that the Fire’s privately financed, 22,000-seat stadium could open for play before the 2028 MLS season, the White Sox said they are still considering building their proposed new ballpark at the South Loop site as well, potentially creating a new pro sports nexus in Chicago.
At least one industry analyst said shoehorning two new stadiums in the mostly vacant 62-acre site is not only viable, but potentially a boon for both teams and the city, as well as Related Midwest’s long-dormant megadevelopment.
“It could work,” said Marc Ganis, a Chicago-based sports marketing consultant. “They would have to work out the use of the infrastructure and the parking and scheduling and things of that nature. I think it’d be great for the city.”
The Fire plan to build the open-air soccer stadium at the north end of the former rail yard along the Chicago River at Roosevelt Road. The stadium, designed by architectural firm Gensler, would feature a natural grass pitch, an array of seating — including club options and luxury suites — and an intimate setting for Fire fans to cheer on the team.
As part of the proposed development, the Fire is buying 9 acres of land at The 78, the team and developer confirmed. That leaves plenty of room for the White Sox to build an adjacent ballpark, Ganis said.
Last year, the White Sox proposed a new publicly funded ballpark at The 78, but Springfield lawmakers balked at the idea of contributing a reported $1 billion to build it. The team, though, has not given up on moving in, according to a statement issued Tuesday.
“Related Midwest first approached the White Sox about building a new ballpark on a piece of property they were developing, and we continue to consider the site as an option,” the White Sox said. “We believe in Related Midwest’s vision for The 78 and remain confident the riverfront location could serve as a home to both teams. We continue to have conversations with Related Midwest about the site’s possibilities and opportunities.”
The White Sox declined to comment further as to their plans to pursue a ballpark at The 78, as did Related Midwest.
While the city needs to sign off on the proposed Fire stadium, the project will not require public funding, team owner Joe Mansueto told the Tribune.
The Fire currently play at Soldier Field on a three-year lease extension. Last season, the Fire averaged 21,327 fans per game at Soldier Field, leaving the 61,500-seat stadium two-thirds empty for most matches.
Ganis said the city should jump at the opportunity for a downsized, privately financed soccer stadium to draw fans and businesses to a South Loop neighborhood ripe for growth.
“They should accept this deal as quickly as they can and get it going and help them procedurally as much as they can,” Ganis said.
Building adjacent stadiums is gaining traction in several markets, including Arlington, Texas, where the Dallas Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium and the Texas Rangers are a line drive away at Globe Life Field. In the Los Angeles area, SoFi Stadium, where both the Rams and Chargers play football, is next door to the Intuit Dome, the new basketball home of the Clippers.
Another major market is already turning soccer and baseball teams into neighbors. In 2027, New York City FC will open that city’s first soccer-specific stadium in Queens, near Citi Field, where the Mets play baseball.
Whether the White Sox will be able to get the financial and political support to move into The 78, envisioned by Related Midwest as a mixed-used megadevelopment that will become Chicago’s 78th neighborhood, remains to be seen.
In 1988, Jerry Reinsdorf, chairman of the White Sox, pushed through legislation to fund a new baseball stadium after threatening to move the team to Florida. Built in 1991, the stadium, which is now called Rate Field, was primarily funded through the issuance of $150 million in hotel tax-supported bonds by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.
The White Sox lease at Rate Field runs through 2029 and the sports facilities authority still owes $50 million on the ballpark.
The primary incentive for the White Sox to move 3 miles north from Bridgeport to the South Loop is the opportunity to build a Wrigleyville-like neighborhood around the stadium, which has been a fan magnet for the Cubs through winning and losing seasons alike, Ganis said.
“Even when the Cubs stink on the field, they still draw” about 3 million people in the stands most seasons, Ganis said. “That is something the White Sox are sorely missing, and it’s because of the location of their stadium and how walled off it is from where people live, work and play.”
The White Sox could use some home-field advantage. The team is coming off the most losses in a season in major league history, and is not faring much better this year, with the worst record in the American League through 60 games. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sports Network, the team’s new TV home, remains blacked out to 1 million Comcast subscribers in the city and suburbs during an ongoing carriage dispute.
Getting legislators in Springfield to help finance the new White Sox ballpark, however, may still be an issue, Ganis said. Larger markets tend to rely less on public financing for sports stadiums than smaller markets, he said. That may leave the White Sox facing a choice whether to stay in Chicago or leave for greener pastures in another city after the Rate Field lease is up.
“The question is going to come up whether the White Sox should be the No. 2 team in the third largest market, or the No. 1 team in a smaller market where the government is willing to step up and pay for a whole new stadium for them,” Ganis said.
Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday sought to parlay the buzz over the Fire’s announcement to build its new stadium at the The 78 site in the South Loop into a pitch for other sports teams to stay in the city. The Bears are likely leaving the city for Arlington Heights and a new stadium there.
At his City Hall news conference, the mayor applauded Fire owner Mansueto for putting up his own money to keep the Major League Soccer franchise in the city while throwing down the gauntlet to other sports team owners.
“There’s no reason to leave Chicago if you’re a sports team. There isn’t,” Johnson said. “There’s just too much soul in this city to leave it now.”
Chicago Tribune’s Alice Yin contributed.
