Chicago White Sox 2024

Bucktown · Thursday at 6:53 PM

Roundball Sage said:
I was glad when that referendum lost back then. The White Sox belong in the City of Chicago, period. Just like the Bears. For better or worse, the City (any City) always remains the heart of any unban area. It has the transit infrastructure -- the central region location -- the long history -- and is part of the City landscape itself as much as any skyscraper.

The Sox have been run like a second-rate outfit for far too long. But up until the late 1960s the White Sox were THE MLB team in Chicago. The Cubs were a silly afterthought and chonic losers while the Sox had 17 straight winning seasons and nearly won a couple of Pennants except for those damned Yankees.

It was a bad ownership situation back then and poor franchise management and decisions back then that sent the Sox on their downward cycle. And really they have never recovered from that.

If you have a Sox fan who is your grandfather... ask him about how exciting the Sox were back then with Luis and Nellie and the great pitching staffs and defense they played for 20 years. Younger Sox fans have no idea how good and much fun this team was.

If the Sox would have found good ownership in the late 60s... today they would be one of the elite MLB franchises. No thoughts ever of moving anywhere... no New York-Loving ownership... no 100-loss seasons. It all started back then.

I am a Cardinal fan so therefore a casual Sox fan. I think the proposed stadium as part of the 78 would be a home run for the City, the Sox and the Related who is developing the project. The anchor of 80+ baseball games in that location would be an economic development catalyst for housing and retail. I can't believe the financing can't get done without subsidy. Related certainly has access to capital also.

Also it is hard to really get to the real numbers, but it seems like the bond holders are only owed $50 million on Guaranteed Rate field. That is pittance compared to the cost of a new stadium. So that is certainly an asset that can be a part of any equation. Why isn't it a very viable option to just develop everyone one of the parking lots around Guaranteed Rate and extend the White Sox. Give the Sox another sweetheart deal as part of a plan to create a destination village around the stadium?

Roundball Sage · Thursday at 7:45 PM

Bucktown said:
I am a Cardinal fan so therefore a casual Sox fan. I think the proposed stadium as part of the 78 would be a home run for the City, the Sox and the Related who is developing the project.

As a legacy Sox fan... I would like to see the 78 Site deal get done and the Sox stay in town. I have always respected the Cardinals franchise and Cardinal fans as I see similarities between our two fan bases -- 'real' baseball fans who appreciate the Game at an adult level. I think the Sox-Redbird matchup can become a great rivalry. Of couse, you'd get a decent rivalty with the St. Louis vs. Nashville Sox, too, should that happen.

Bucktown said:
Why isn't it a very viable option to just develop everyone one of the parking lots around Guaranteed Rate and extend the White Sox. Give the Sox another sweetheart deal as part of a plan to create a destination village around the stadium?

It is my belief that the Big Wheels/Big Cheeses around Chicago have given up totally on the South Side. The City became North and Northwest Side centric once old Mayor Daley (who was a big Sox fan) and then his son passed out of the scene. The South Side used to be a huge economic engine for the City when the South Side was loaded with big factories and countless workers (and voters). All of that began to die off beginning in the 1960s -- just about the time the Sox as a franchise began to slide downward. So, the South Loop site is seen as the best option for keeping the franchise.

Plus, the South Side always gets lots of bad publicity while the North Side is always touted as the Cool and Hip Side of Town. And as you know as a Cardinals fan... those 'Lovables!' play on the North Side. No one ever calls the Sox that (thank God).

Bucktown · Thursday at 11:23 PM

Roundball Sage said:
As a legacy Sox fan... I would like to see the 78 Site deal get done and the Sox stay in town. I have always respected the Cardinals franchise and Cardinal fans as I see similarities between our two fan bases -- 'real' baseball fans who appreciate the Game at an adult level. I think the Sox-Redbird matchup can become a great rivalry. Of couse, you'd get a decent rivalty with the St. Louis vs. Nashville Sox, too, should that happen.

It is my belief that the Big Wheels/Big Cheeses around Chicago have given up totally on the South Side. The City became North and Northwest Side centric once old Mayor Daley (who was a big Sox fan) and then his son passed out of the scene. The South Side used to be a huge economic engine for the City when the South Side was loaded with big factories and countless workers (and voters). All of that began to die off beginning in the 1960s -- just about the time the Sox as a franchise began to slide downward. So, the South Loop site is seen as the best option for keeping the franchise.

Plus, the South Side always gets lots of bad publicity while the North Side is always touted as the Cool and Hip Side of Town. And as you know as a Cardinals fan... those 'Lovables!' play on the North Side. No one ever calls the Sox that (thank God).

Done right a development around the existing stadium could really work. It could be an attractive entertainment option for the many young people who have moved to Chicago but are not Cubs fans. Especially if retains the character of the salt of the earth south and west sides…industrial, gritty, family, authentic. Wrigleyville is kind of like Disneyland.

Mr. Tibbs · Friday at 4:48 PM

Bucktown said:
Done right a development around the existing stadium could really work. It could be an attractive entertainment option for the many young people who have moved to Chicago but are not Cubs fans. Especially if retains the character of the salt of the earth south and west sides…industrial, gritty, family, authentic. Wrigleyville is kind of like Disneyland.

while I would like to agree , there is NOTHING to indicate what you are saying is possible .

you cant put lipstick on a pig and expect positive results

Roundball Sage · Saturday at 4:50 PM

Bucktown said:
Done right a development around the existing stadium could really work... if retains the character of the salt of the earth south and west sides…industrial, gritty, family, authentic. Wrigleyville is kind of like Disneyland.

That's always been the great difference between North Side Team and South Side Team fans. Fans of The Adorables like the amusement park atmosphere and neighborhood 'socializing opportunities'. South Siders want to go to a baseball park and watch baseball games.

The North Side Team doesn't have to win to be 'Adorable'. Sox fans are more demanding. When the team is doing well, Sox fans reward them with lots of energy and a full ball park. When the Sox are doing poorly, Sox fans won't reward that and find other things to do.

The Sox had a chance to move to the South Loop Region back around 1990 when they were planning their next location. If it does happen in the future... it will be about 40 years after they decided to stay on 35th.

bdutts · Saturday at 5:13 PM

Roundball Sage said:
That's always been the great difference between North Side Team and South Side Team fans. Fans of The Adorables like the amusement park atmosphere and neighborhood 'socializing opportunities'. South Siders want to go to a baseball park and watch baseball games.

The North Side Team doesn't have to win to be 'Adorable'. Sox fans are more demanding. When the team is doing well, Sox fans reward them with lots of energy and a full ball park. When the Sox are doing poorly, Sox fans won't reward that and find other things to do.

The Sox had a chance to move to the South Loop Region back around 1990 when they were planning their next location. If it does happen in the future... it will be about 40 years after they decided to stay on 35th.

SOME people go to Wrigley for the carnival. Many of us go because we like baseball and want to watch baseball games. Cubs fans are just as demanding as the White Sox fans are. Yes, the Cubs have played some bad baseball in my lifetime but as a friend says, “the worst day at the ballpark is still better than your best day at work.” Your bias and hatred for the Cubs won’t allow you to see it. You can’t even type in Cubs and you’re constantly taking shots. All that is fine, I just ignore the folks who place more importance on the Cubs losing than the White Sox winning. Just don’t lump the vast majority of us Cubs fans in with the party crowd.

And I find it interesting that you applaud “the great fans for showing up to the park to support a horrible team”, while adding more money into the coffers of a guy you truly despise yet when the Cubs fans go to watch a horrible baseball team, you rip them for not putting importance on good baseball. So which is it?

EyeoftheIllini · Saturday at 6:04 PM

bdutts said:
SOME people go to Wrigley for the carnival. Many of us go because we like baseball and want to watch baseball games. Cubs fans are just as demanding as the White Sox fans are. Yes, the Cubs have played some bad baseball in my lifetime but as a friend says, “the worst day at the ballpark is still better than your best day at work.” Your bias and hatred for the Cubs won’t allow you to see it. You can’t even type in Cubs and you’re constantly taking shots. All that is fine, I just ignore the folks who place more importance on the Cubs losing than the White Sox winning. Just don’t lump the vast majority of us Cubs fans in with the party crowd.

And I find it interesting that you applaud “the great fans for showing up to the park to support a horrible team”, while adding more money into the coffers of a guy you truly despise yet when the Cubs fans go to watch a horrible baseball team, you rip them for not putting importance on good baseball. So which is it?

Pretty typical White Sox fan talking points. Cubs fans aren’t serious or knowledgeable. And to say Sox fans reward team with a full ball park isn’t really true. Sure for a game or a few series. But when park capacity is about 40,500 and the highest yearly average attendance is 36,500 (year after WS) and championship year only drew 29,000 per game, not exactly packing park to the rafters. Seems like “South Siders [don’t] want to go to a baseball park and watch baseball games” near enough. And not talking this past year. Dismal crowds should be expected and even applauded during a season like that. But in decent and good years, crowds just aren’t there. Maybe it’s the hate for Reinsdorf. But if team moves, think it is hard to say it wasn’t in part because of mediocre support too often.

Roundball Sage · 2024-10-21T12:48:05-0500

bdutts said:
SOME people go to Wrigley for the carnival. Many of us go because we like baseball and want to watch baseball games.

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of how many go for the 'carnival' and how many go for the baseball. The reason for the general slam against North Sider Ball Club fans is that they would routinely fill the park even though the ball club was horrible for years. This leans into the fact that winning as optional for them which is fine as a choice I suppose. Winning is not optional for Sox fans. When the Sox are bad -- Sox fans wont show up.

bdutts said:
Your bias and hatred for the Cubs won’t allow you to see it.

I don't hate them. As a Sox fan I'm just tired of having the North Siders always being touted as the cool and lovable team in town -- a trope that has been going on in the Chicago and National media for fifty years now. National media hardly even mentioned that the Sox were World Series Champs in 2005. Why? Becuase the Sox are not the 'cool' team... and everyone in media wanted the North SIders to win it instead. You might frrl that way if the roleds were reversed.

bdutts said:
... you applaud “the great fans for showing up to the park to support a horrible team”, while adding more money into the coffers of a guy you truly despise..."

I hate or despise no man. My dislike for The Owner is in how he has destroyed a legacy franchise that should be at the level of the Dodgers and Yankees as the Number Three Major City in America.

Sox fans have been robbed of two generations of great baseball because of someone who should have bought the Mets as he wanted to.

If Sox fans have a 'complex' about things... just maybe there are reasons why.

There's enough room in town for two successful franchises. Except that one of them already has one foot out the door.

And as far as financing a new Sox ball park... there is already so much money being wasted in the State of Ilinois that it wouldnt't hurt to 'waste' a bit more to save a valuable baseball franchise. There are lots things that should be cut in the budget that are being protected that don't serve the public at all.

But I appreciate seeing your point of view.

Roundball Sage · 2024-10-21T12:55:07-0500

Sox fans might look at the two teams now left to win the 2024 World Series.

The Yankees... a team that tormented the White Sox in the 17 years that Sox had consecutive winning seasons.

And the Trolley Dodgers... who nosed out the 1959 White Sox to take the Series away from the South Siders.

Looks like New York got their Subway Series after all. It's just that one team left now plays ball in The Very Far Western Suburbs of Brooklyn.

At least it's worth a look to see the greatest ball player to come along in a VERY long time.

Kinkyfish · 2024-10-21T15:08:20-0500

I have always wondered if the two teams traded parks, would the Sox become the “carnival “ team

ChiefGritty · 2024-10-21T15:45:14-0500

Roundball Sage said:
I don't hate them. As a Sox fan I'm just tired of having the North Siders always being touted as the cool and lovable team in town -- a trope that has been going on in the Chicago and National media for fifty years now. National media hardly even mentioned that the Sox were World Series Champs in 2005. Why? Becuase the Sox are not the 'cool' team... and everyone in media wanted the North SIders to win it instead. You might frrl that way if the roleds were reversed.

As a Wrigleyville resident and lifelong Cubs fan, but also a contrarian milennial hipster, honestly the White Sox are the cool team for exactly the reason you lay out. The Cubs are sellout pop, the White Sox have underground appeal.

Trouble is, as a Bulls fan I am all too aware of how it's basically impossible to really put your whole heart into rooting for a Reinsdorf operation at this point.

bdutts · 2024-10-21T19:03:21-0500

Roundball Sage said:
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of how many go for the 'carnival' and how many go for the baseball. The reason for the general slam against North Sider Ball Club fans is that they would routinely fill the park even though the ball club was horrible for years. This leans into the fact that winning as optional for them which is fine as a choice I suppose. Winning is not optional for Sox fans. When the Sox are bad -- Sox fans wont show up.

What I could find says there are about 6000 bleacher seats at Wrigley. You could say that anyone in the 20s and 30s is there for the carnival. So even if that were 50% of capacity, that's only 3000 of 41,000 for a sellout. Roughly 7% of fans. Even it was 100% of the bleachers, that's 14%, certainly less than you were implying in your original message.

Here's a question for you: If Cubs fans only care about the party at Wrigley field, why do Cubs fans travel so well to other ballparks? I'll give you a hint: Maybe it's because Cubs fans like baseball and like to see what other parks and cities are like. I went to one of the Tampa-Cubs games in June and there were probably 80% Cubs fans in attendance and let me tell you, that park is not a party park. Most parks in MLB aren't party parks (maybe no others are, I don't know) so your comment about Cubs fans only caring about the party at Wrigley is just false.

I also noticed that you didn't answer to my question about why it was "great fans" supporting a bad team but when the Cubs fans do it, it's bad to be supporting bad baseball. You can have a crack at it but I think I already know the answer.

Roundball Sage said:
I don't hate them. As a Sox fan I'm just tired of having the North Siders always being touted as the cool and lovable team in town -- a trope that has been going on in the Chicago and National media for fifty years now. National media hardly even mentioned that the Sox were World Series Champs in 2005. Why? Becuase the Sox are not the 'cool' team... and everyone in media wanted the North SIders to win it instead. You might frrl that way if the roleds were reversed.

Seems like your beef should be with the White Sox and the media outlets and not the Cubs. But yet, you've taken many shots at the Cubs in this 17-page thread. To be fair, you've taken many shots at the White Sox, too, but it seems like for some reason, how the Cubs are perceived has a great deal of impact on your White Sox fandom. You're not alone; seems to happen to a lot of White Sox fans.

Actually, what the White Sox do has no bearing on my Cubs fandom. If the roles were reversed, I'd be super p!ssed at the Cubs for not competing at the level they should be but I, in no way, would blame the Cubs failures on the White Sox or the media or anyone else but the Cubs and all of my Cubs fans friends feel the same way. Sure, some hate the White Sox but they would never blame Jerry Reinsdorf for the failure of the Cubs. Wanna get attention? Be better! The White Sox were on the verge of it in 2022 and if they would have beaten Astros, they probably would have gotten all the attention (assuming they didn't have a 100-loss season in 2023.

Roundball Sage said:
I hate or despise no man. My dislike for The Owner is in how he has destroyed a legacy franchise that should be at the level of the Dodgers and Yankees as the Number Three Major City in America.

Sox fans have been robbed of two generations of great baseball because of someone who should have bought the Mets as he wanted to.

If Sox fans have a 'complex' about things... just maybe there are reasons why.

Understandable.

Roundball Sage said:
There's enough room in town for two successful franchises. Except that one of them already has one foot out the door.

I agree.

Roundball Sage said:
And as far as financing a new Sox ball park... there is already so much money being wasted in the State of Ilinois that it wouldnt't hurt to 'waste' a bit more to save a valuable baseball franchise. There are lots things that should be cut in the budget that are being protected that don't serve the public at all.

But I appreciate seeing your point of view.

I think they'll get another sweetheart deal like they got when they built new Comiskey Park. Well, maybe not as sweet as that one but there is no way anyone from the State of Illinois will let them leave, in spite of what some folks are posting here.

For the record, I'm 100% against using public funds for any sports franchises to build new stadia, but I understand the climate we're in and it just doesn't happen.

bdutts · 2024-10-21T19:04:40-0500

ChiefGritty said:
As a Wrigleyville resident and lifelong Cubs fan, but also a contrarian milennial hipster, honestly the White Sox are the cool team for exactly the reason you lay out. The Cubs are sellout pop, the White Sox have underground appeal.

Kinda like how hipsters are into PBR now?

bdutts · 2024-10-21T19:11:36-0500

Kinkyfish said:
I have always wondered if the two teams traded parks, would the Sox become the “carnival “ team

If the White Sox were smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood and the area around the ballpark was built up, might not be a carnival but there sure would be a lot of "socializing" before and after games. Would take time, just like it did for the Cubs. In the 70s, the area around Wrigley wasn't great. The area was gentrified and what they have now is what they have. I will say, I don't like all the national chains that are in place now; I much preferred the mom and pop bars and restaurants that used to occupy the area. But, at 58 years old, I'm not the target demographic so I usually just have a beer in the park and maybe one at a joint farther away from the chain joints then make my way home (that is, when I used to go to games).

Hell, I'd say that I did just as much "socializing" inside of Old Comiskey Park as I have at Wrigley. I just haven't been to as many White Sox games as I have Cubs games.

AZILL · 2024-10-21T19:42:55-0500

bdutts said:
Kinda like how hipsters are into PBR now?

I am far from being a hipster, but with daughters in that age group, I've hung out with quite a few of them over PBR's, lol. It's a decent cheap beer for a hot day when you are puttering around the house/yard. And if you are out and about and wanna be on the cheap and not get sauced, a PBR tall boy does the trick!

ChiefGritty · 2024-10-21T21:07:14-0500

bdutts said:
Kinda like how hipsters are into PBR now?

It is my somber responsibility to inform you that's been out of style for years.

bdutts · 2024-10-21T21:18:46-0500

ChiefGritty said:
It is my somber responsibility to inform you that's been out of style for years.

Dang, I’m really out of touch with what’s cool with hipsters…

AZILL · 2024-10-22T02:29:48-0500

ChiefGritty said:
a h
It is my somber responsibility to inform you that's been out of style for years.

bdutts said:
Dang, I’m really out of touch with what’s cool with hipsters…

Ummmm, no it's not. I can speak from VERY recent experience.... and my next foray into that realm will be over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend when I will absolutely be immersed in that social sphere.... I will let you know if it has changed, lol. And yes, these sort of 'societal' changes do take time to solidify their hold in specific geographical areas.

Roundball Sage · 2024-10-22T13:17:08-0500

bdutts said:
Here's a question for you: If Cubs fans only care about the party at Wrigley field, why do Cubs fans travel so well to other ballparks?

Of course there is the baseball element. That's what the event is. But the reason why every team has some or many fans that travel and support their team is that it's fun to have a group identity. Humans are group animals. We like having people around who share something we like. That's why sports... politics... religion endures. We have to find some group to fit in with.

bdutts said:
I also noticed that you didn't answer to my question about why it was "great fans" supporting a bad team but when the Cubs fans do it, it's bad to be supporting bad baseball. You can have a crack at it but I think I already know the answer.

When I say 'support' I mean support in general. Sox fans will not go to the park when the team is not competitive. But the 'love' for the team (beyond its fundamental problems) endures because the White Sox have six generations of fans who made this team part of their lives. Both teams show their support in different ways.

bdutts said:
Seems like your beef should be with the White Sox and the media outlets and not the Cubs. But yet, you've taken many shots at the Cubs in this 17-page thread. To be fair, you've taken many shots at the White Sox, too, but it seems like for some reason, how the Cubs are perceived has a great deal of impact on your White Sox fandom. You're not alone; seems to happen to a lot of White Sox fans.

This I can add to the mix here: My extended family has several braches who are North Siders. Of those, the ones who are baseball fans are definately NOT Sox fans. And with all due respect to them... I can say that none of these people have been respectful or positive to the family members who live on the South Side. While I am certainly not attributing my feelings about baseball in town just to this... it was obvious to me as a kid who the supportive people (of my family) were and who were not -- and which team they favored. The North Side family has certain shared traits about them that I wont go in to further here.

By extension... I believe many South Side Sox fans have similar experiences. There has not been a great deal of respect extended to our side of town since (as I indicated) old man Daley left the scene. He of course had big clout and the powers in town had to be more respectful of the Sox than they have been for many years not. The power and focus of the City began shifting Northward beginning in the late 1960s and after the riots of 1968 and other events.

bdutts said:
I think they'll get another sweetheart deal like they got when they built new Comiskey Park. Well, maybe not as sweet as that one but there is no way anyone from the State of Illinois will let them leave, in spite of what some folks are posting here.

For the record, I'm 100% against using public funds for any sports franchises to build new stadia, but I understand the climate we're in and it just doesn't happen.

At this point I can't muster much faith that the Sox ownership and the Mayor and the Governor are going to place enough value on keeping the team in Chicago to make the 78 happen. If it does happen I will be pleasantly surprised.

There is some talk that The Fire could be involved in the 78 area. If true, that might make this project more possible.

The North and South Sides of town have always been fundamentally different in nature and that makes for a good baseball rivalty.

Mr. Tibbs · 2024-10-22T14:24:08-0500

full disclosure, I could not care less about professional soccer here or across the pond.
I dont follow it and never will

accordingly, I have a hard time seeing how a team that draws 20,000 fans on a good night 17 times a season (basically once per week) can really help all that much in making '78' work .

This is just not a MLS soccer town, despite the large Polish and Mexican population here

ChiefGritty · 2024-10-22T15:29:17-0500

Mr. Tibbs said:
full disclosure, I could not care less about professional soccer here or across the pond.
I dont follow it and never will

accordingly, I have a hard time seeing how a team that draws 20,000 fans on a good night 17 times a season (basically once per week) can really help all that much in making '78' work .

This is just not a MLS soccer town, despite the large Polish and Mexican population here

The 78 is very overrated and a mess for traffic and parking purposes.

The Fire did average 21k for the year though.

You'd imagine the women's Red Stars team would move there too (they currently play in the Fire's awful previous location in Bridgeview).

A Wrigley Field-type neighborhood anchor it is certainly not, but it's not nothing either.

What that whole part of the city (from Chinatown to McCormick Place to Northerly Island to the Museum Campus) needs is a big picture vision for how all of those parts will flow and fit together and compliment one another. It's so piecemeal.

Roundball Sage · 2024-10-22T15:50:28-0500

ChiefGritty said:
What that whole part of the city (from Chinatown to McCormick Place to Northerly Island to the Museum Campus) needs is a big picture vision for how all of those parts will flow and fit together and compliment one another. It's so piecemeal.

Absolutely, yes. The Near North Side has known what it wanted to be and has established a reputation that is World famous. That's what is needed for the Near South Side as well. And you've identified some nice pieces that already exist which can form the basis of that new unified identity.

The Near West Side around the UC is building its own new development identity right now. Already, I miss the old glass-strewn and deeply rutted parking lots that used to surround old Chicago Stadium while the weeds poked through where they could find an opening. And trying to local your car on a freezing cold night after the game and cursing to yourself all the while. That was some real local flavor there!

It's strange that Futbol has not gained a strong presence in the City. Of course, the Fire have not been very good for one thing. But Chicago has always been a mix of ethnic communities... from the English and Poles and Italians of the Ellis Island migration to today's large Latino population. Probably if the Fire ever got competitive this would ignite the local Futbol community as they will retain their old favorite franchise identities from where they came from until the local team gives them a reason to care.

And just maybe... Jerry takes the money and runs while the Fire end up with the entire 78 project for themselves.

ChiefGritty · 2024-10-22T15:58:33-0500

Roundball Sage said:
Absolutely, yes. The Near North Side has known what it wanted to be and has established a reputation that is World famous. That's what is needed for the Near South Side as well. And you've identified some nice pieces that already exist which can form the basis of that new unified identity.

The Near West Side around the UC is building its own new development identity right now. Already, I miss the old glass-strewn and deeply rutted parking lots that used to surround old Chicago Stadium while the weeds poked through where they could find an opening. And trying to local your car on a freezing cold night after the game and cursing to yourself all the while. That was some real local flavor there!

It's strange that Futbol has not gained a strong presence in the City. Of course, the Fire have not been very good for one thing. But Chicago has always been a mix of ethnic communities... from the English and Poles and Italians of the Ellis Island migration to today's large Latino population. Probably if the Fire ever got competitive this would ignite the local Futbol community as they will retain their old favorite franchise identities from where they came from until the local team gives them a reason to care.

And just maybe... Jerry takes the money and runs while the Fire end up with the entire 78 project for themselves.

MLS has seemed to have greater success where the sports and entertainment market isn't quite so saturated. Aside from LA (a uniquely large Latino market and very successful teams), all the best MLS markets have been places without all four major pro sports teams.

But the Fire have been absolutely garbage for decades, some winning would surely help.

Anyway, I don't know if I've ever said this on this board, but to me the best result for everybody would be Bears to Arlington Heights, White Sox under new ambitious ownership to renovate Soldier Field into a baseball park, and the Fire to take over the Comiskey site and build a soccer stadium where Old Comiskey once stood.

SeattleSlim · 2024-10-22T16:48:10-0500

ChiefGritty said:
MLS has seemed to have greater success where the sports and entertainment market isn't quite so saturated. Aside from LA (a uniquely large Latino market and very successful teams), all the best MLS markets have been places without all four major pro sports teams.

But the Fire have been absolutely garbage for decades, some winning would surely help.

Anyway, I don't know if I've ever said this on this board, but to me the best result for everybody would be Bears to Arlington Heights, White Sox under new ambitious ownership to renovate Soldier Field into a baseball park, and the Fire to take over the Comiskey site and build a soccer stadium where Old Comiskey once stood.

… the bolded will no longer be true once we get our Sonics back

Roundball Sage · 2024-10-22T17:16:39-0500

ChiefGritty said:
MLS has seemed to have greater success where the sports and entertainment market isn't quite so saturated. Aside from LA (a uniquely large Latino market and very successful teams), all the best MLS markets have been places without all four major pro sports teams.

Futbol has its place in the general sports scene. But truth be told... it really is an acquired taste.

First, the very low scoring. Americans are used to greater ‘rewards’ of scoring from the other sports. More rewards, more fun for most. That low scoring is tough for many American sports fans to swallow. The World community has been steeped into that low-reward idea for generations so its no big deal to them. But for Americans, that can be a deal breaker.

Second, Futbol has all that midfield play and kicking the ball out of bounds in a defensive tactic. For me... they should go the NHL route and call that Delay of Game – a penalty. Kick the ball defensively in-bounds or suffer the consequences.

Next, scoring by knocking the ball off your head. This is NOT good for – the head! Concussions do not occur just happen from severe sudden head trauma. They build up over time and cause cognitive issues later on in life. If you need to use your head they should mandate head gear to protect the head.

So Chicago has been slow to adopt this game for some of these reasons plus the fact that the team has not been competitive.

ChiefGritty said:
... to me the best result for everybody would be Bears to Arlington Heights, White Sox under new ambitious ownership to renovate Soldier Field into a baseball park, and the Fire to take over the Comiskey site and build a soccer stadium where Old Comiskey once stood.

We fans seem to have more creative ideas than anything the Powers That Be have come up with. Since we're throwing out ideas... let the Cardinals come back to the South Side and give Chicago a second NFL team to break the Bears monopoly. Of course that wont happen, but I'd still like to see it.

And let Michael Jordan buy the Bulls from the Sox Owner. Sure, MJ wasn't a great owner before but he could hardly be worse than what the Bulls have now.
And the Bulls could attract some real free agents for a change rather than so many purposely avoidng the Bulls and the Bulls getting the leftovers.