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* Background is here if you need it. Isabel posted this Sun-Times story earlier…
The Chicago White Sox and mega-developer Related Midwest put on a South Loop fantasy camp Monday in their latest pitch to state lawmakers who so far aren’t swinging on public funding for a new stadium. […]
“Everyone knows this would be awesome. That doesn’t mean taxpayers should put up a dime for it,” the representative said, asking not to be named.
Lawmakers across the state have uniformly bristled at White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s push for about $1 billion in public funding for the project, including a tax-increment financing district, an extension of the 2% hotel tax increase used to renovate Soldier Field and a new sales tax overlay district around The 78. The team Reinsdorf is currently fielding at Guaranteed Rate Field is closing in on the modern-day Major League Baseball record for most losses in a season.
* Somebody I know took a pic as the boat went by…
Not exactly a huge turnout.
…Adding… Yep…
Some news on the White Sox greats who attended legislator event from a person familiar:
- Ozzie Guillén
- Bo Jackson
- Ron Kittle
- Harold Baines https://t.co/AaGVG6S2A0— Ben Szalinski (@BenSzalinski) September 17, 2024
…Adding… Republican Senator from Springfield…
…Adding… House Speaker Chris Welch said today that he attended the event…
I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see what this diamond looked like… I was there. It was a beautiful baseball field. What a great view. But again, that doesn’t change the conversation about who pays for it. You know, it’s certainly something I think would be a great economic development project for the city of Chicago to have, a 78th neighborhood. I think 78 is great, by the way. A 78th neighborhood would be great for Chicago. But again, I think when it comes to a baseball stadium, that might be something private investors might want to look at.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 9:44 am
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“Not exactly a huge turnout” is the new “Good Guys Wear Black”
Comment by Bentoh's Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 9:46 am
The last time a pro sports boat party went this poorly, the Minnesota Vikings got themselves into a whole heap of trouble.
Comment by Roadrager Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 9:56 am
Looks like typical attendance to a Sox game.
Comment by NotRich Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 9:57 am
About equals the number of people in the lower deck at recent games.
Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 9:58 am
Now taking bets on who will win the exhibition game: the 2024 Chicago White Sox or the Boatful of Random Out-of-Shape Guys.
Comment by Benjamin Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:01 am
Illinois legislators bravely embark on a boat ride sponsored by a sinking ship.
Comment by The Opinions Bureau Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:01 am
The balls of these people wining and dining legislators to get a new tax payer funded stadium to replace their 30 year old tax payer funded stadium that isn’t paid off yet while the team is 5 losses away from being the worst team in MLB history is just stunning.
I didn’t think I could hate the White Sox anymore than I previously did.
Comment by So_Ill Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:11 am
The Sox shuttled in the winning Springfield legislative softball team to try to salvage the last 11 games of the season and avoid having the worst record in history.
Comment by Frida's boss Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:23 am
What’s the Sox magic number, infinity?
Comment by Formerly Unemployed Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:24 am
No caption, but is there a current list of people who are asking for a billion or more in New spending in next year’s budget? The Sox, the Bears, the City of Chicago, the schools, …
Who else is in line with a ten-figure ask?
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:26 am
This whole event looks clumsy and stupid. Whoever thought this would be a good idea ought to be fired.
Comment by low level Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:28 am
“Wait, this is a cash bar?”
Comment by fs Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:30 am
I agree with the unnamed legislator. It would be great. Pay for it yourself, Jerry.
Comment by TJ Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:33 am
What low-level said X2. The money they spent on this fiasco should have gone into their “build it themselves” fund. The sense of entitlement is mind boggling.
Comment by froganon Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:40 am
“If you float it, they don’t come.”
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:45 am
Unwilling to be identified, but willing to go for a free ride. Don’t you have anything better to do?
Comment by Save Ferris Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:47 am
Oh, and for the curious about magic numbers…
With 11 games to go, the Sox are 5 losses from tying the modern era’s most losses record. They are also 9 losses from surpassing the modern era’s worst winning percentage record.
Comment by TJ Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:54 am
I’m not closed minded to public funds for new stadiums, but I need at a minimum an -independent- analysis showing the net benefits to the taxpayers.
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:54 am
S S Minow Minoso takes off on a 3 hour cruise
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:55 am
“Anyone who says money can’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop.” - Lovey Howell
Comment by Jerry Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 10:57 am
About one legislator per White Sox win this season
Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:09 am
===Not exactly a huge turnout.===
This was taken after the boat hit the iceberg.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:12 am
Where is the Dave Matthews tour bus when you need it?
Comment by Henry Francis Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:14 am
===About one legislator per White Sox win===
More like one for every three wins, but yeah. Oof.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:18 am
Henry Francis’ comment—I second that thought.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:19 am
In furtherance of his not-cringy-at-all celebrity selfie portfolio, Senator McClure just uploaded a bunch of pics from this sell out event. Count Steve in as a member of the yes column /s
Comment by Springpatch Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:22 am
We’re on a boat(exclam pt)
Where’s T-Pain?
(Thanks for reminding me of one of my favorite Lonely Island videos: https://youtu.be/avaSdC0QOUM)
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:30 am
So after we enter the North Branch of the Chicago River, we have to either use the North Shore Channel to continue by boat or we hike down North Kedzie Avenue to reach Thillen’s Stadium, the Ballpark at Devon and Kedzie. It is perfectly suited for our needs and seats 2,400 which is more than sufficient for our crowds.
Comment by Gravitas Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:34 am
All of the remaining White Sox fans gathered at the Chicago River today in support of Jerry Reinsdorf after the legislature told him to take a long walk off a short pier.
Comment by The Ford Lawyer Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:36 am
“I need at a minimum an -independent- analysis showing the net benefits to the taxpayers”
There is one, but it can only be found where the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Great Pumpkin live, right next to the designs for cold fusion and a perpetual motion machine.
Comment by Save Ferris Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:42 am
Standing ovations
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:42 am
Bo. I’d go to meet Bo.
And with this turnout we could probably have hours to cover everything amazing he did in his career.
Then I’d need to come up with a catchy “Bo Knows” slogan for the reality of publicly funded stadiums and how bad this White Sox team is.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:48 am
The Bears had a similar event planned, but they negotiated a boat cruise with a bus company, and everyone ended up in the river.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:52 am
I would simply say to Riensdorf “ sir put a winning product on the field then come back and talk. Till then use all the money you saved by running your franchise into the ground”
Comment by Long time Independent Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 11:57 am
Hopes for a new stadium revealed to be a sinking ship…
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 12:00 pm
Sadly the TV show South Side is no longer in production, because this would be such a good episode featuring Alderman Gayle on the boat with no other politicians showing up.
Comment by 51st Ward Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 12:02 pm
==Some news on the White Sox greats who attended legislator event from a person familiar:==
Co-presidents of the Jerry Reinsdorf Fan Club
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 12:03 pm
Hey, will this thing float on the Cumberland River, too?
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 12:16 pm
Bo Jackson was there? That would’ve been great. Ozzie, Kittle and Baines are always around at events throughout Chicago or at the ballpark.
Bo could possibly be the best all-around athlete to play in Chicago.
His hitting wasn’t massive but his arm and speed in the outfield were spectacular. On the football field, he was a beast.
Wondering if today’s medical treatments could’ve prolonged his career?
Plus one of the best Nike commercials of all time “Bo you don’t know Diddley”
Comment by Frida's boss Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 12:20 pm
Hey McClure, did you enjoy your play day. Now will you vote tax money to help these losers (the Sox might be considered bigger losers than the IL MAGA GOP)? I’d like to share that information with my former Cardinal fans neighbors.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 12:47 pm
Let’s not kid ourselves into thinking that McClure showed up to support the White Sox. He wouldn’t have been there if he already had pictures with these celebrities. I sure hope state taxpayers didn’t pay to pad this honorable senator’s ego…
Comment by Probably should retire soon Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 12:52 pm
Bo Knows Taxpayer Funded Stadiums
Comment by Jose Abreu's Next Homerun Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 1:16 pm
I mean, any entity lobbying members of the GA are legally required to submit expenditure reports with the Secretary of State. So won’t either Related Midwest or the White Sox have to disclose who was actually on the boat in a couple weeks no matter what? Unless their plan was to violate the law and just hope nobody notices.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 1:39 pm
Sums up the White Sox that the most recent great they could drum up was the manager of the 2005 series. A decade+ of mostly bad teams hasn’t produced all that many stars.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 1:48 pm
===have to disclose who was actually on the boat in a couple weeks no matter what? ===
There are different rules when every member of the ILGA is invited to something.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 1:50 pm
Where is that Dave Matthews tour bus when you need it? /s
Comment by RR Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 2:18 pm
“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
a tale of a fateful trip, …”
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 2:26 pm
Fast and loose with the term “White Sox Greats and Hall of Famers.” There was exactly one member of the Hall of Fame there (Baines) — no sign of Fisk, Big Hurt, La Russa, or Hawk (I wouldn’t expect guys like Griffey, Steve Carlton, Tim Raines, or Goose Gossage to be there). Although it seems from the pictures and reports to this point that the Chairman couldn’t be bothered, either. Then again, maybe he was advised his presence would likely only be detrimental to success of the endeavor.
Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 2:47 pm
Avast ye scurvy dogs.
Ye be on the S.S. Reinsdorf as we look for an iceberg to hit….kind of like the Sox have all year long.
Arrrrrrr
Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 3:00 pm
The White sox can’t be expected to pay for their own stadium. All their money is going for players. S/
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 3:07 pm
The sandlot spouted grass overnight
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 4:49 pm
There’s another baseball team in town?
Comment by 312 Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 5:00 pm
Caption: “Not enough interest in taxpayer-funded Sox stadium to fill a boat.”
Comment by thisjustinagain Tuesday, Sep 17, 24 @ 6:42 pm