The proposed stadium for the Chicago White Sox has been the talk of the town lately, with many eagerly awaiting its construction and others questioning the cost. In an exclusive interview with NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern, Curt Bailey, the CEO and president of Related Midwest, remained tight-lipped about the exact cost of the new pop-up field in Chicago’s South Loop. When pressed about the price, Bailey simply stated, “It was expensive. Let’s just leave it at that.”
But while the cost may be a concern for some, Bailey is confident that the $10 billion project will bring immense benefits to the city of Chicago. “It’s not just about a ballpark,” he explained. “This is a $10 billion investment in Chicago. It’s a thousand affordable units. It’s the Riverwalk extending all the way from downtown to Ping Tom Park. It’s a reason for people to come back downtown and work in Chicago. It’s 81 games a year of people forming around this.”
Bailey’s vision for the project is ambitious and far-reaching, but it has a lot of convincing to do. The estimated price tag for taxpayers is around $1 billion, which has raised concerns among some lawmakers and citizens. However, Bailey remains optimistic and believes that the project will be well worth the investment.
“The numbers are not set on how much is going to come from public and private, as you’re well aware,” Bailey added. With the stunning Chicago skyline as its backdrop, the new pop-up field is located just south of Roosevelt Road in a spot called “The 78,” named after the 78th neighborhood of the city. This is where Bailey hopes to build the new stadium.
The impressive pop-up field was brought to life by Guaranteed Rate Field’s head groundskeeper Roger Bossard, affectionately known as “The Sodfather.” This week, Bailey treated lawmakers to a river cruise and invited them to see the field for themselves, allowing them to envision the vibrant neighborhood it could become.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who played baseball at Northwestern University, was among those who got a first-hand look at the field. He described it as “a beautiful baseball field with a great view” during an event with the City Club of Chicago on Tuesday.
But despite the positive reactions from lawmakers, there is still a long way to go before the project can become a reality. White Sox Owner Jerry Reinsdorf has met with the four top leaders in Springfield, but the chances of getting their approval are uncertain at this point.
“I’m not aware that anything has changed the environment or the appetite for taxpayer-funded stadiums,” said State. Sen. Steve McClure, who represented the Senate Republican Caucus during the tour of the proposed stadium site. “What I’m hearing out there when I talk to people is they’re worried about their grocery bill, or they’re worried about paying their mortgage. They’re talking about the things that impact folks at their kitchen tables. They’re not talking about stadiums.”
Other teams, such as the Bears and the Red Stars, are also looking for new stadiums, which has made Illinois Governor JB Pritzker hesitant to commit to funding the project. “There’s a limited opportunity to help those stadium builds, but to come at us in a serial fashion – one after another after another – makes it a little bit hard,” he said.
Despite the high cost of a new stadium, Related Midwest is not giving up on its vision. “If you look at our Hudson Yards project in New York, that was an $18 billion development that we delivered on,” Bailey proudly stated. “Some people may put pretty pictures down, and some can actually deliver. We will deliver on this $10 billion project, but we need an engine to start it. And the engine is this ballpark and the White Sox in downtown Chicago.”
The proposed site for the project, which has been vacant for over 90 years, was also a finalist for the Chicago casino. The developer’s project spans 62 acres of former railroad property and includes plans to donate approximately an acre of land to the University of Illinois for the construction of the Discovery Partners Institute, a new research and innovation center.
The potential for this project to revitalize the area and bring economic growth to the city is undeniable. While there may be concerns about the cost, the benefits that it could bring to Chicago far outweigh them. The White Sox still owe $50 million on Guaranteed Rate
