Speaking of pigs in pokes, the Chicago White Sox‘ new South Loop stadium proposal is lurching ahead despite actually being less of a proposal than a series of rumors. Among the latest developments:
- Alderman Pat Dowell, whose district includes the proposed “The 78” site (so called because it would be the city’s 78th neighborhood, which isn’t really how Chicago neighborhood designations work, but whatever), endorsed building a stadium there on Friday after meeting with the project’s developers. “Assuming the financial details can be worked out, this development shows promise as a great growth opportunity for the City of Chicago,” Dowell wrote in a statement, which is a rather large caveat.
- Alderman Nicole Lee, whose district includes the existing White Sox stadium, wrote that the team moving out of her neighborhood “is admittedly difficult to stomach” but that the developers had presented “an impressive vision.” Lee also told the Chicago Sun-Times that “it’s their business, and they have to make their own decisions,” though city officials would presumably have to approve any use of TIF tax kickbacks to fund the project, making it her decision as well.
- The Chicago Tribune editorial board came out in favor of the South Loop stadium plan, whatever it might be, writing that “we’ve long been on record believing the days of handing over taxpayer funds to hugely profitable sports franchise owners should be over” but adding that “that view doesn’t preclude city and state governments from working with the team” to “chip in on infrastructure and the public areas.” It also apparently doesn’t preclude TIF kickbacks (which “no doubt” will be needed, per the Trib) or “transferring the existing 2% hotel tax to this project.” (The Trib editorial board remained silent on whether suitcases full of unmarked twenties would count.)
- One Chicago Tribune columnist is already suggesting names for the new stadium including Rat Hole Park, notwithstanding that it’s probably really a squirrel hole.
All that only leaves … oh yes, an actual stadium proposal with a financial plan and lease terms and maybe real renderings not done by some anonymous person on Xitter. It’s always been in team owners’ interest to try to make their stadium plans seem like fait accomplis where all that’s left is to haggle over the details, and this is right in line with that, with a major assist from the local paper and elected officials. The Savvy Negotiator’s visit with the mayor of Nashville last month clearly worked its magic, even if he previously revealed how the trick works; guess it really is true that people who are given a choice tend to believe they’ve acted freely.
“with a major assist from the local paper”
Excuse me, but the White Sox are getting assists from two local papers.
And probably TV and radio stations, so I really should have written “the local media.” Is anyone actually reporting on this less hagiographically? Does the Reader still do news coverage?
“it’s their business, and they have to make their own decisions,”
Huh. I could have sworn the end of that statement was going to read “so they should fund their own project”.
Full marks to Reinsdorf for (presumably) having someone else pay for/create renderings on their own time that pushed this forward.
The only thing better than a half billion dollar subsidy in exchange for a $5,000 rendering is the same subsidy in exchange for a rendering that cost you nothing at all.
I love how it’s all in how you phrase it. “Taxpayer handout” would be bad, but “chipping in” is fine, even if it’s the same amount of public money. This is where we are.