Chicago, Illinois – The future of the Chicago White Sox is uncertain as Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf suggests that the team may be forced to relocate if a new stadium is not built to replace Guaranteed Rate Field. In an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business, Reinsdorf expressed concerns about the team’s viability and hinted at a potential move to another city.
According to Reinsdorf, the ownership group may consider selling the team to a relocation group following his passing if it remains based at Guaranteed Rate Field. He has long maintained that his heirs should hold onto the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and sell the White Sox, citing the involvement of his son, Michael, with the Bulls’ management. Reinsdorf, along with the late Eddie Einhorn and their partners, purchased the White Sox in 1981.
The current stadium lease for Guaranteed Rate Field expires after 2029, but Reinsdorf is keen on finding a new stadium location closer to downtown before then. He has proposed a stadium vision to legislators, advocating for a new stadium site on the east side of the Chicago River. Reinsdorf emphasized the need for a new stadium, suggesting that the team’s current location limits its revenue generation and ability to pay competitive player salaries.
However, Reinsdorf’s vision for a new stadium comes with a hefty price tag, requiring $1.1 billion in subsidies from an existing tax on hotel rooms to fund construction. The proposed stadium design from HOK would be part of a larger development project that includes residences, hotels, and bars, emphasizing the economic benefits to the city and state as justification for the investment.
While Reinsdorf’s ambitions for a new stadium may offer hope for the team’s future, some fans believe that the chairman, and not Guaranteed Rate Field, is the biggest obstacle to the team’s success. Reinsdorf’s comments have sparked speculation and debate about the future of the White Sox, raising questions about the team’s long-term prospects and potential impact on the city of Chicago.