The team is playing rent free in its stadium, and I am not willing to let Jerry Reinsdorf live rent free in my head. Sell, don’t sell, his choice, I don’t care. But not a penny from me for another stadium.
Yes. And not for the obvious reasons, of which there are many. The business side of the game has changed on him. He has few owners left with whom he shares much in common. He idealizes a team built around hustle and heart and a “scout’s intuition” whereas the modern team is analytics, homeruns and pitch counts. He is fiercely loyal, which is admirable, but hurts the cause when he can’t let go of longtime employees, or worse, brings them back out of a sense of guilt.
The 2005 team is all his. He brought the South Side a World Series ring. He did the thing. There really is nothing left to prove.
I voted no. It is his team and if other stakeholders are happy he is chairman. He is in it for the money he is making money so I guess he is doing a good job. He does not care if his teams win championships or not as long as they make a good return. And now he is in the middle of an historic season and let his name always be linked with loser.
No. I like visible reminders that sports teams are fundamentally just profit generating machines for the mega rich, and they don’t ultimately care about you. They rely on you forming parasocial relationships with strangers as a means of sucking dollars out of you and out of public funds and into their pockets.
I love a few specific sports, but it is always helpful to get reminded that these aren’t charities and they don’t “belong” to fans.
He seems caught in a time warp. Big Jim, Pate, Lee and Madigan are not in the capitol anymore so his old playback won’t work. Also, the hypocrisy of asking for a huge amount of public money for a baseball stadium when at the same time he is working with private investors for a $7 billion development around the United Center is just amazing.
Cleveland fan here.
Please don’t sell the team Jerry.
Keep up the “good” work there.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 3:46 pm:
Yes, he should sell. Unless he has a real plan to rebuild, for which there is obviously no evidence from recent history. Sell to investors who want to rebuild the team with a new ownership regime and image, and build a gorgeous new ballpark in the 78 with the Chicago skyline behind the outfield (wishful thinking).
Voted YES. Classic “mistakes were made” type statement with zero accountability. “We didn’t arrive here overnight.” How did we all arrived here Mr. Reinsdorf - by slow-moving spaceship? In the trunk of the Guardians’ Buick?
I’ll be a contrarian. Why sell a business where you’re going to make a ton of money every year regardless of how you perform. And bonus points if your ego is fed by getting lots of attention and having power over people. Free money, attention, power. It’s a pity we can’t adjust the rewards built into the system to incentivize good performance.
I’m a Cubs fan and a bit of a Sox hater that’s gotten a lot of schadenfreude over the past year amidst an up and down season on the north side, but even I have to say absolutely yes.
For many years, I believed that Jerry Reinsdorf was being unfairly criticized. However, the last two years have changed my mind. I’ll never forget 2005 (my entire family were in the stands for that unforgettable Game 2 of the World Series) but it’s time for a complete overhaul including ownership. Sell the team, please!
Yes. Why? 1) Marketing heavy organization; 2) the ableist discharge of Jason Benetti; 3) The team is embarrassingly bad.
I am a lifelong Sox fan who grew up on the north side. I haven’t been able to stop being a fan. But this team is really sad. Give someone else a chance to make them successful again.
- New Day - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 1:46 pm:
This will be the most lopsided survey you’ve ever done. Who’s gonna say no? Jerry Reinsdorf?
- DuPage Dad - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 1:51 pm:
The “yes” votes do not require explanation.
The “no” votes require heighted explanation.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 1:52 pm:
No, at this point it should be seized from him.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 1:53 pm:
===Who’s gonna say no?===
Cleveland fans?
- Bogey Golfer - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:02 pm:
My “Change the Game” t-shirt now reads “Change the Owner”.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:08 pm:
Yes. He’s no longer able to do so competently.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:08 pm:
Yes.
I’m a Cubs fan and I want this team to be so much better than they are.
Shameful how bad they are and I simply see no way they are 15-20 wins better next year.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:10 pm:
I voted no.
The Sox went 0-4 against the Cubs this year.
Somebody has to be the MLB punching bag. This guy’ll do.
- Mr Ed - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:20 pm:
No explanation necessary. Please sell?
- sim1 - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:23 pm:
As for the quote… um, “the end of the season” came weeks ago
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:25 pm:
The team is playing rent free in its stadium, and I am not willing to let Jerry Reinsdorf live rent free in my head. Sell, don’t sell, his choice, I don’t care. But not a penny from me for another stadium.
- Wild Hare - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:28 pm:
Vote No-I’m a Cub fan, I like it this way
- Zed's Dead, Baby. - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:39 pm:
Yes. And not for the obvious reasons, of which there are many. The business side of the game has changed on him. He has few owners left with whom he shares much in common. He idealizes a team built around hustle and heart and a “scout’s intuition” whereas the modern team is analytics, homeruns and pitch counts. He is fiercely loyal, which is admirable, but hurts the cause when he can’t let go of longtime employees, or worse, brings them back out of a sense of guilt.
The 2005 team is all his. He brought the South Side a World Series ring. He did the thing. There really is nothing left to prove.
- JoanP - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:48 pm:
I voted “no”, only because I enjoy the way CapFax commenters troll him.
- DuPage Saint - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:48 pm:
I voted no. It is his team and if other stakeholders are happy he is chairman. He is in it for the money he is making money so I guess he is doing a good job. He does not care if his teams win championships or not as long as they make a good return. And now he is in the middle of an historic season and let his name always be linked with loser.
- Homebody - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 2:48 pm:
No. I like visible reminders that sports teams are fundamentally just profit generating machines for the mega rich, and they don’t ultimately care about you. They rely on you forming parasocial relationships with strangers as a means of sucking dollars out of you and out of public funds and into their pockets.
I love a few specific sports, but it is always helpful to get reminded that these aren’t charities and they don’t “belong” to fans.
- harp5339 - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 3:05 pm:
Yes. The city is missing out on millions in amusement tax because Jerry can’t field a team that will put butts in the seats.
- levivotedforjudy - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 3:14 pm:
He seems caught in a time warp. Big Jim, Pate, Lee and Madigan are not in the capitol anymore so his old playback won’t work. Also, the hypocrisy of asking for a huge amount of public money for a baseball stadium when at the same time he is working with private investors for a $7 billion development around the United Center is just amazing.
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 3:21 pm:
I voted yes. If only to relieve Jerry of this unhappiness in his life.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 3:42 pm:
Cleveland fan here.
Please don’t sell the team Jerry.
Keep up the “good” work there.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 3:46 pm:
Yes, he should sell. Unless he has a real plan to rebuild, for which there is obviously no evidence from recent history. Sell to investors who want to rebuild the team with a new ownership regime and image, and build a gorgeous new ballpark in the 78 with the Chicago skyline behind the outfield (wishful thinking).
- Lefty Lefty - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 4:11 pm:
Voted YES. Classic “mistakes were made” type statement with zero accountability. “We didn’t arrive here overnight.” How did we all arrived here Mr. Reinsdorf - by slow-moving spaceship? In the trunk of the Guardians’ Buick?
(banned words - many of them)
- Apple - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 4:36 pm:
I’ll be a contrarian. Why sell a business where you’re going to make a ton of money every year regardless of how you perform. And bonus points if your ego is fed by getting lots of attention and having power over people. Free money, attention, power. It’s a pity we can’t adjust the rewards built into the system to incentivize good performance.
- TJ - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 4:54 pm:
I’m a Cubs fan and a bit of a Sox hater that’s gotten a lot of schadenfreude over the past year amidst an up and down season on the north side, but even I have to say absolutely yes.
Sell the Bulls, too, dude.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 5:00 pm:
Seems like the only option if team — not owner — have any hope of stadium help and the City wants to keep the team.
- Retired SURS Employee - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 5:41 pm:
For many years, I believed that Jerry Reinsdorf was being unfairly criticized. However, the last two years have changed my mind. I’ll never forget 2005 (my entire family were in the stands for that unforgettable Game 2 of the World Series) but it’s time for a complete overhaul including ownership. Sell the team, please!
- Stateandlake - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 5:53 pm:
Yes. Why? 1) Marketing heavy organization; 2) the ableist discharge of Jason Benetti; 3) The team is embarrassingly bad.
I am a lifelong Sox fan who grew up on the north side. I haven’t been able to stop being a fan. But this team is really sad. Give someone else a chance to make them successful again.
- 10th Ward - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 6:45 pm:
Only Cub fans voted NO
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Sep 12, 24 @ 8:40 pm:
Sell it to the fans, like the Packers.
- James of Little Italy - Friday, Sep 13, 24 @ 3:10 pm:
What’s worse that losing the most games ever? Losing your team to Orlando or Memphis.