The Chicago White Sox have called the south side of Chicago home for over 120 years, but could that soon be coming to an end?
According to a report by Crain’s Chicago’s Greg Hinz, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is considering a number of options, including selling the team or relocating to Nashville.
Bye-bye @GuaranteedRate Field? @whitesox owner #JerryReinsdorf ponders a move to another city location, the burbs, or even Nashville, and could sell team. Take a look as a move that could be as interesting as the @ChicagoBears trek to AH or wherever. https://t.co/Aq5quyTxY9
— Greg Hinz (@GregHinz) August 21, 2023
There are a number of things to unpack here. Firstly, Guaranteed Rate Field was built in 1991, which makes it the eighth-oldest stadium in Major League Baseball, so it’s easy to understand why Reinsdorf may be starting to apply pressure to start the new stadium process.
This also isn’t the first time Reinsdorf has done this. When the White Sox were seeking a new stadium prior to Guaranteed Rate being built, Reinsdorf was in talks to move the White Sox to Tampa to play in the newly-constructed Tropicana Field, before Illinois lawmakers passed a last-minute stadium funding package.
It’s also possible that Reinsdorf is using this as a way to deflect attention from another disappointing season. The White Sox entered play Monday at 49-75 on the year, the third-worst record in the American League, ahead of just the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics.
With the Chicago Bears in the midst of planning a new stadium of their own, perhaps Reinsdorf is just following in their footsteps.
Naturally, the report led to a frenzy of reactions online.
Jerry Reinsdorf got Tropicana Field built by threatening to move the White Sox, which led to St. Pete getting the expansion Rays. He’s going to do the same thing for Nashville three decades later. It’s the exact same blueprint. Fascinating. https://t.co/4k55zBjqGr
— Tyler Kading (@tkading712) August 21, 2023
https://twitter.com/phil_rosenthal/status/1693752396910924185
https://twitter.com/tvsitcomdad/status/1693772845799842292
Whoever buys the team when Jerry sells (expectation has long been the team sells after he passes) will absolutely push for a new stadium. https://t.co/150UdCD8bH
— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) August 21, 2023
