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The White Sox may soon have a brand new stadium in the South Loop of Chicago as part of a massive $9 billion project along the Chicago River.
Considering the team’s poor history when it comes to reaching and winning a World Series, a new stadium could potentially make the White Sox more competitive. Since the infamous Black Sox scandal in 1919, they have only made it to two World Series, winning one.
Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf has been toying with the idea of relocating the team since the late 1980s, when the White Sox nearly moved into the newly built Florida Suncoast Dome (now Tropicana Field).
Now, Reinsdorf and his associates have been discussing the possibility of moving the team to Nashville or Orlando.
With the team’s lease at Guaranteed Rate Field about to expire, talks of constructing a new stadium in Chicago are gaining momentum.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the latest proposal by developer Related Midwest suggests that the White Sox could relocate to a 62-acre site called “The 78,” which has the potential to generate billions of dollars in economic impact for Chicago, create numerous jobs, and attract millions of visitors annually.
Related Midwest estimates that the project would cost $9 billion, create at least 10,000 construction jobs and 22,000 permanent jobs, include 1,000 affordable housing units, and have an annual economic impact of $4 billion.
The Chicago White Sox have put forth a plan for a new stadium in the South Loop’s “The 78.”
If the Sox were to move to the South Loop, their current Guaranteed Rate Field could be transformed into a soccer stadium for the MLS’ Chicago Fire.
The site will also be home to the Discovery Partners Institute, a tech research center affiliated with the University of Illinois, as well as 4,000 residential units, an office building, a hotel, and numerous restaurants and bars.
As part of the proposal, the White Sox’s current home would be converted into a dedicated soccer stadium, potentially for the MLS team Chicago Fire FC. The soccer club currently plays at the expansive 61,500-seat Soldier Field.
“We are pleased that discussions about the White Sox’s future in Chicago have commenced, and we eagerly await further conversations,” stated Frank Bilecki, CEO of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the organization that owns Guaranteed Rate Field.
According to the Source brobible.com