Jerry Reinsdorf had a meeting with Nashville mayor Freddie O’Connell

[soxhop411]

Someone should file a public records request with the City of Nashville...

SCOOP: Jerry Reinsdorf, the chair and majority owner of the Chicago White Sox, was spotted walking out of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office on Tuesday.

Reinsdorf is in the Music City for the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, where team owners meet to make trades and sign free agents.

Why it’s curious: There’s been talk for months that Reinsdorf is looking to move the Sox from Guaranteed Rate Field when the team’s lease expires in six years.

He’s refuted the idea … but: Reinsdorf recently acknowledged, “If we have six years left, we’ve got to decide what’s the future going to be?” according to MLB.com.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-pl

White Sox confirm
@ShiaKapos
report that chairman Jerry Reinsdorf met with Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell. Topics discussed are not being disclosed, so nothing beyond the confirmation.

View: https://twitter.com/scottmerkin/status/1732466523728457931?s=12&t=VjfO6v3EoAZhWPfo2DgDBw

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

He tried the same exact bullshit with Tampa Bay back in the late 80s before he wised up and realized that he didn't want to be the guy that is/was known for moving the White Sox out of Chicago.

I'd be shocked if he moved the team. I would not be shocked if he sold them to new owners who then moved the team, but Reinsdorf isn't doing it.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

He tried the same exact bullshit with Tampa Bay back in the late 80s before he wised up and realized that he didn't want to be the guy that is/was known for moving the White Sox out of Chicago.

I'd be shocked if he moved the team. I would not be shocked if he sold them to new owners who then moved the team, but Reinsdorf isn't doing it.

The flirtation with Tampa Bay in the '80s was Reinsdorf pressuring Chicago into building him a new stadium. His "wising up" was a case of getting what he wanted, not some altruistic realization. He's just doing it again with Nashville.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

The flirtation with Tampa Bay in the '80s was Reinsdorf pressuring Chicago into building him a new stadium. His "wising up" was a case of getting what he wanted, not some altruistic realization. He's just doing it again with Nashville.

Well, yes and no.

I just read a piece (and I can't find it right now) where there was a point (before he got what he wanted) where Reinsdorf expressed sadness for stooping so low and using TB as a cudgel to get Chicago to give him a new stadium. Mainly because of what I said above, and he further admitted to the reporter that he probably wasn't going to do it for that particular reason. I remember that he said something along those lines because this was so wildly out of character for Reinsdorf that I thought that either three ghosts visited him in the middle of the night or that he was having a stroke.

But what he did say to Cigar Aficionado in 1995 (because of course it was Cigar Aficionado, anyone who reads that stupid magazine would love to have this quote inscribed on their headstone) was “A savvy negotiator creates leverage. People had to think we were going to leave Chicago.”

So I don't know whether he got religion in the years since then or what, but it's the same plan. I don't think that the Sox are going anywhere.

 

[AB in DC]

I wonder who "spotted" them (and leaked it)

 

[YTF]

I wonder who "spotted" them (and leaked it)

Dave Roberts.

 

[67YAZ]

It’s a naked leverage ploy and it won’t work nearly as well as it did the first time around.

That’s in part because Jerry was so transparent about it after the fact. The magician explained his trick.

He’s also old as fuck now. His political cronies are retired, dead, or heading to jail. Fan feelings run the spectrum from annoyed to despise. His teams have mired in mediocrity for years because Jerry held on to underperforming front offices.

Sell the team to an ownership group involving Obama & watch the city + state throw mountains of cash at a new stadium. It’s really the best thing Jerry could do for his legacy.

 

[Van Everyman]

I also have to imagine that the Oakland-Vegas shitshow is not helpful to his cause if Reinsdorf truly is hoping to move the White Sox. But maybe he’s thinking that creates leverage against the league?

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

I also have to imagine that the Oakland-Vegas shitshow is not helpful to his cause if Reinsdorf truly is hoping to move the White Sox. But maybe he’s thinking that creates leverage against the league?

A savvy negotiator creates leverage, I've heard.

 

[Max Power]

The White Sox have outdrawn the Cubs 8 times in the last 55 years and none in the last 30. They built a new park that everyone hates and never recovered from it. I'm not sure what the answer is, but not playing in the current version of their ballpark is probably part of it.

 

[67YAZ]

More on the age angle - Jerry is 87. If he announced a deal with Nashville tomorrow, he knows he might not even live to see the team move, never mind establishing a new legacy in a new city. He'd be trashing his Chicago reputation at a time when most powerful old men are trying to burnish their images for posterity.

Plus, he's still tethered to Chicago with the Bulls.

Jerry's problem is he was the owner who cried Tampa, now no one believes him. Plus, we have a lefty mayor and a liberal, billionaire governor. Jerry has less access than he did in the Daley/Madigan heyday last time 'round.

 

[67YAZ]

Bump because the Sun-Times reports that Jerry and the Mayor are in talks about a parcel called The 78 - a 20 acre vacant lot a few blocks west of Soldier Field. There's a long way to go before anything is firm.

The land is owned by a developer that has struggled to get things going, but there is an agreement with the state to build a tech hub/incubator type thing there...except that state has been trying to get out of that deal.

So Jerry is going to go to the state for money, the state is going to leverage that to move their tech hub project, and the land owner is going to hold out for a fat premium despite having no other prospects.

And then someone floated the idea that the Chicago Fire would move down to Guaranteed Rate? That’s really unlikely, but the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority will have to figure out what to do with the stadium.

TL;DR Reinsdorf isn't an idiot. He wants his legacy to be in Chicago. This may take a while, but it ultimately makes enough sense for all parties to happen.

 

[nvalvo]

That would be a great location for a park. On Red, Green, and Orange el, and one of the Metra lines. Walkable from loop hotels. Near a bazillion college students.

And more fundamentally, it could help develop that south loop/prairie district zone. Right now, there’s all the conference stuff near McCormick and all of the UIC stuff, and a bunch of weird new urbanist nonsense on Roosevelt. A ballpark and its foot traffic could help turn that into a bit more of a real neighborhood.

But also, we’re all going out for Xi’an cuisine after the game.

 

[SLC Sox]

Isn't Nashville considered a frontrunner for an expansion team? And the timeline between that and waiting out 6 years for the stadium deal to expire seems pretty comparable. I'm a little surprised Nashville would play both sides.

 

[trekfan55]

Bump because the Sun-Times reports that Jerry and the Mayor are in talks about a parcel called The 78 - a 20 acre vacant lot a few blocks west of Soldier Field. There's a long way to go before anything is firm.

The land is owned by a developer that has struggled to get things going, but there is an agreement with the state to build a tech hub/incubator type thing there...except that state has been trying to get out of that deal.

So Jerry is going to go to the state for money, the state is going to leverage that to move their tech hub project, and the land owner is going to hold out for a fat premium despite having no other prospects.

And then someone floated the idea that the Chicago Fire would move down to Guaranteed Rate? That’s really unlikely, but the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority will have to figure out what to do with the stadium.

TL;DR Reinsdorf isn't an idiot. He wants his legacy to be in Chicago. This may take a while, but it ultimately makes enough sense for all parties to happen.

Are the Bears moving from Chicago "proper" after all? Having both stadiums in the are is also a boon to the City assuming the Bears keep playing at Soldier Field.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

Are the Bears moving from Chicago "proper" after all? Having both stadiums in the are is also a boon to the City assuming the Bears keep playing at Soldier Field.

They want to move to Arlington Heights, about 30 miles north of Soldier Field.

 

[axx]

The Bears site is like 2-3 miles from the Chicago border.

 

[67YAZ]

Are the Bears moving from Chicago "proper" after all? Having both stadiums in the are is also a boon to the City assuming the Bears keep playing at Soldier Field.

Despite the delays and public jockeying, the Bears are gone.

A friend of mine framed it like this - the McCaskey family lucked into a $3b+ asset. Ol’ George bought the team for $100 in 1920 and it has been the family business ever since.

But it is the sole major asset and revenue generator for the family, so they would like to leverage this one source of wealth to diversify into real estate. (Soldier Field is Chicago Park District property, so the Bears lease from the city.) The proposed new site in the ‘burbs has retail, condos, hotel, and stadium right at a commuter rail station - they’ll essentially double the family portfolio with this move.

It’s going to happen.

 

[kenneycb]

The Bears site is like 2-3 miles from the Chicago border.

And 40 minutes away from Soldiers without traffic (lol).

 

[Bergs]

And 40 minutes away from Soldiers without traffic (lol).

"Without traffic?" More like "by chartered helicopter."

 

[LogansDad]

This would suck because it would likely add a fifth MLB team for me to be blacked out of on MLB.TV.

 

[67YAZ]

It’s on now. The 3rd Ward alderman, where the proposed stadium would go, gave a public thumbs up provided the “financial details can be worked out.” For those not fluent in Chicago corruption, that means campaign donations, patronage jobs, and financing for pet projects around the new place.

And then the 11th Ward alderwoman came out saying she wants the chance to keep the White Sox near their historic home in the Bridgeport neighborhood. Not sure Jerry is actually interested in that, but he sure loves having public officials competing for his stadium.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

This would suck because it would likely add a fifth MLB team for me to be blacked out of on MLB.TV.

I hadn't thought of that. I'd likely be affected as well. Blackouts suck all around. Current blackout teams (plus Nashville) and distance from my house in north-central North Carolina:

Atlanta Braves: 325 miles
Washington Nationals: 330 miles
Baltimore Orioles: 368 miles
Cincinnati Reds: 423 miles
Nashville White Sox: 445 miles

 

[nvalvo]

It was a nice night, so I walked a few miles of my commute to stretch my legs and detoured by the proposed South Loop site before hopping on the train. I think it could be an incredible location. The access to transit and freeways is great, it’s in a weird development gap between two lively and fun areas of the city (Chinatown and Printer’s Row), and the skyline and river views would give it a ton of character.

Right now, a lot of people would probably consider it a pretty creepy place to walk by yourself in the dark, but that would change if tens of thousands of people were there on game nights.

 

[Rice4HOF]

I hadn't thought of that. I'd likely be affected as well. Blackouts suck all around. Current blackout teams (plus Nashville) and distance from my house in north-central North Carolina:

Atlanta Braves: 325 miles
Washington Nationals: 330 miles
Baltimore Orioles: 368 miles
Cincinnati Reds: 423 miles
Nashville White Sox: 445 miles

Those are rookie numbers. I'm blacked out from Blue Jays games. Distance: 3,409 km (that's well over 2000 miles)

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

Those are rookie numbers. I'm blacked out from Blue Jays games. Distance: 3,409 km (that's well over 2000 miles)

That sucks. Hopefully you have access to their RSN. I’m so far from these cities that the only RSN available here is the Braves. I can’t watch Baltimore, Washington or Cincinnati games even if I wanted to.

 

[Rice4HOF]

That sucks. Hopefully you have access to their RSN. I’m so far from these cities that the only RSN available here is the Braves. I can’t watch Baltimore, Washington or Cincinnati games even if I wanted to.

I do if I paid for cable. Or for their streaming service. But I pay for MLB tv so I don’t have to do those. Thankfully it’s only 12 Sox games a season I can’t watch.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

I do if I paid for cable. Or for their streaming service. But I pay for MLB tv so I don’t have to do those. Thankfully it’s only 12 Sox games a season I can’t watch.

Looks like it’s 19 this year for me.

EDIT: With that, let’s get this back on topic.

 

[j-man]

nashvillie needs to be in the N L short drives to STL Ciny Pitt ATL IF nashvillie took a team it needs to be the rays then u swith the rays to the NL and wash to the AL East

 

[steeplechase3k]

View: https://twitter.com/SBJ/status/1755607585892528283

The @whitesox unveil renderings for their potential ballpark in South Loop The potential ballpark would be closer to downtown and offer views of the city’s famed skyline. (h/t

 

[simplicio]

What's up with those ugly pinwheels?

 

[67YAZ]

What's up with those ugly pinwheels?

Bill Veeck had them put in at Comiskey for $300k in 1960. They flashed their lights to appear as if spinning and shot up sparks for a White Sox homerun. The “exploding scoreboard” became a team icon that was recreated in the new stadium. Fans would be pissed if it didn’t show up in the new park.

The Sun-Times today also mentioned that Jerry already has lobbyists working down in Springfield to secure funding. The Nashville meeting was the naked leverage play everyone saw it for. I don’t think it will get him any more money from the legislature.

A big sticking point in negotiations will be the fate of the current stadium. If Jerry can help arrange a repurposing or redevelopment of that site, he’ll get what he wants for a new park.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

View: https://twitter.com/SBJ/status/1755607585892528283

Looks great and all, but I feel like a water view would be better than the skyline. I’m sure it has to do with the position of the sun or something.

 

[67YAZ]

Looks great and all, but I feel like a water view would be better than the skyline. I’m sure it has to do with the position of the sun or something.

Renderings like this are relatively cheap and quick to produce for a PR campaign. The actual stadium will probably bear little resemblance after real architects get working on it, inspectors start making changes, community forums compel revisions, etc.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

Renderings like this are relatively cheap and quick to produce for a PR campaign. The actual stadium will probably bear little resemblance after real architects get working on it, inspectors start making changes, community forums compel revisions, etc.

Good point that I didn’t consider.

 

[simplicio]

Looks great and all, but I feel like a water view would be better than the skyline. I’m sure it has to do with the position of the sun or something.

"It is desirable that the line from home base through the pitchers plate to second base shall run East Northeast." - Official Baseball Rules, section 1.04.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

"It is desirable that the line from home base through the pitchers plate to second base shall run East Northeast." - Official Baseball Rules, section 1.04.

Desirable, not required.

https://ballparks.com/baseball/general/facts/diamonds/index.htm

 

[67YAZ]

Desirable, not required.
View attachment 77847
https://ballparks.com/baseball/general/facts/diamonds/index.htm

Very cool, haven’t seen this before.

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

The stadium would be on the east bank of the river, so I don't a significant view of it would be possible since that requires the batter's eye to be to the west. Stadium orientation varies, but none of them do that.

 

[the1andonly3003]

South Loop isn't in the South Side...it's very downtown
Are they tearing down Soldier Field and replacing it with this? Will the White Sox be on the road until June? Lakefront will be a killer early in the season

 

[Sausage in Section 17]

Looks great and all, but I feel like a water view would be better than the skyline.

Lakefront will be a killer early in the season

It's not lakefront, but riverfront. It's about half a mile from the lake.

 

[nvalvo]

South Loop isn't in the South Side...it's very downtown
Are they tearing down Soldier Field and replacing it with this? Will the White Sox be on the road until June? Lakefront will be a killer early in the season

It’s about a mile west (and across Lake Shore Drive and a ton of rail infrastructure) from Soldier Field.

 

[67YAZ]

Trib reports that Jerry has a meeting with the governor lined up. Pritzker sounded positive yet reserved when fielding questions about it today - a new stadium would be nice, but we have to be careful with public money yadda yadda.

Also, reported that Jerry is proposing a soccer field, affordable housing, and market-rate housing on the current Guaranteed Rate site and surrounding parking lots. This sounds Jerry's team put all of 30 seconds into that plan. Is the soccer field a stadium for the Fire? Do they even want that? Or is it a park? And sure housing...but the land is owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. They'd need a developer to buy the land and roll out the project at a time when borrowing and construction rates are high and the local real estate market sluggish.

 

[the1andonly3003]

It's not lakefront, but riverfront. It's about half a mile from the lake.

It’s about a mile west (and across Lake Shore Drive and a ton of rail infrastructure) from Soldier Field.

So this is going to be close to Union Station? off Roosevelt?

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

This image from the tweet labels the streets. It's just not oriented on a north/south axis. The park would be between Clarke and the Chicago River with Roosevelt bordering the north side of the development.

 

[Max Power]

If those shadows are correct, they couldn't move the plate toward Clark Street to have the outfield look toward the river. The setting sun would be right in a left handed hitter's face.

 

[nvalvo]

So this is going to be close to Union Station? off Roosevelt?

Just south of Roosevelt, east of the river, between printer’s row and Chinatown.

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

The location of the potential project was easily knowable by simply following/reading the link that @steeplechase3k provided, but whatever.

 

[67YAZ]

Crain’s Chicago reporting that Jerry’s ask to the Governor will be $1b. Hey now!

 

[nvalvo]

Crain’s Chicago reporting that Jerry’s ask to the Governor will be $1b. Hey now!

Yeah, I don't see that happening.