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* Chicago Tribune earlier this week…
As city and state lawmakers discuss public funding for the Chicago White Sox and Bears to build new stadiums, the Chicago Red Stars are making a move to be part of the conversation.
The National Women’s Soccer League club’s current stadium in suburban Bridgeview is not ideal for the team, and it has been a pressing issue predating the new ownership group. If elected officials use taxpayer dollars for new stadiums for the White Sox or Bears, then Red Stars executives contend they also should be included in whatever funding is allocated.
Red Stars Executive Chairperson Laura Ricketts and team President Karen Leetzow recently met with Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch in Westchester and are scheduled to meet this week with Illinois Senate President Don Harmon at his district office in Oak Park.
Just to be clear, “meetings” do not equal “support.”
* Crain’s last night…
The Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox are being urged to cobble together one financial request for their stadium proposals that state legislators can consider rather than dueling plans that could box each other out.
Representatives for the teams are hearing the same message from state officials as they jockey for public subsidies to build new stadiums. State Senate President Don Harmon specifically has told both teams there is little appetite in the General Assembly to approve separate stadium legislation.
“I’m not planning to referee fights between billion-dollar sports franchises,” Harmon told Crain’s in a statement. “I hope the teams took heed of the governor’s expression of reluctance to use tax dollars to subsidize new stadiums.” […]
In the past week, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Related Midwest President Curt Bailey, the developer of The 78 property where the Sox are looking to build a ballpark, met with Bears Chairman George McCaskey, team President and CEO Kevin Warren and Chief Financial Officer Karen Murphy, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.
Mischaracterizing or even just leaking details of meetings with a legislative leader may get you a sweet headline (“Bears and Sox told to team up on stadium financing pitches”), but it won’t move the Statehouse ball forward, and it may actually do the opposite. Also, read Harmon’s statement carefully.
…Adding… Harmon is out with a slightly revised statement that makes his intent more clear…
“I share the governor’s reluctance to spend taxpayer dollars to subsidize private stadiums. I’m not going to referee fights between billion-dollar sports franchises.”
The teams probably need to stop listening so much to their PR people and start listening more to their lobbyists.
If the object is to pass a bill, then this ain’t the way to do it.
* Gov. Pritzker was asked about the latest Crain’s story today…
I think organizing it together seems to make some sense if they can do that. I mean, these are different businesses. They will be in different locations. I’m not exactly sure how that will work.
I know that they, what do they have in common? They’re looking for taxpayer dollars. So that’s, as far as I can tell, the thing that they have most in common. And I think you’ve heard me say over and over, and I’ll repeat it one more time, which is taxpayer dollars are precious, and we ought to treat them as if we have priorities in this state. And I’m not sure that supporting private sports teams in their desire for a new stadium is more important than, for example, building jobs here and a grant program and across the state, or, as I said the other day you know, building birthing centers, in communities that where we’ve got maternal mortality rates that are three times what they are, let’s say in white communities versus a black family, we ought to be building birthing centers. So there’s so many priorities that I think rise above investing in you know, building a stadium for private enterprise.
In other words, it’s time the teams made a case for why these would be smart investments for government instead of publicly spiking the ball every time they set up a meeting. What would taxpayers get out of their proposals? What even are their proposals? Let’s hear it.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 12:39 pm
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Meanwhile, in what is considered by many the most Republican state …
https://ksltv.com/624920/bill-to-raise-slc-tax-for-nhl-stadium-funding-advances-slc-leaders-supportive/
Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 12:46 pm
I’ll be interested to see and hear what’s in their quiver besides threats to relocate.
Comment by Original Rambler Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 12:51 pm
The Cell would be a good home for the Red Stars - easier to get to from the north burbs where a lot of its fans are, lots of amenities/parking/etc.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 12:53 pm
The thing about Utah is that it’s not deep MAGA the way the South is. More to the subject: for cities like Milwaukee and SLC, I feel there are intangibles that might auger for some public funding (entertainment for residents, projects “big city” for attracting businesses).
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 12:55 pm
As a soccer fan, it would be great if the Fire/Red Stars could share The Cell and renovate it into a soccer-specific-stadium. The rest of the league has been moving in that direction of the past decade, and it’d be nice for once for the Fire to keep up with their peers.
Comment by Treefiddy Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 12:58 pm
I mean, I guess I don’t blame the Red Stars for putting their hand out, too. But while Soldier Field and Sox Park have many deficiencies, SeatGeek Stadium is actually a really nice place to watch soccer. Maybe I’m biased because it’s only a 30 minute drive from my house.) Moving to Soldier Field has not boosted the Chicago Fire’s attendance, I doubt it would help the Red Stars, who sometimes get outdrawn by high school football games.
Comment by TNR Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:04 pm
Gather all the billionaires together in one room with everything they want and tell them all no. Be much more efficient than dragging this out. However if I had to bet I would think Reinsdorf has the experience and brains to make a he best argument
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:07 pm
=Meanwhile, in what is considered by many the most Republican state …=
Republicans with a handout to billionaires, who woulda thunk it? /s
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:08 pm
We think listenin’ to PR people is vital…if the chatter makes sense. Who ever picked an election year for this gambit needs to a quick break. Bears owners seem to be on generally thin ice. They get some credit for bungling the Soldier Field hodge podge. Wrecking one sports facility to make for another seemed silly. Building more office and commercial space when there are plenty of vacancies in the area seems sillier. Oh and what they do in the draft will be a key. Sox nicked everyone once not sure who wants to see a do over.
This does not seem to be the right environment for giveaways to rich guys.
Comment by Annon'in Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:08 pm
Agree with Rich, maybe start moving actual proposals forward instead of putting out communications. Also if the only communication you’re putting out isn’t garnering more public support you may want to change tactics.
Comment by Frida's boss Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:19 pm
===SeatGeek Stadium is actually a really nice place to watch soccer===
Never been there, but I just pulled up some pics and it looks quite nice.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:20 pm
==As a soccer fan, it would be great if the Fire/Red Stars could share The Cell and renovate it into a soccer-specific-stadium. The rest of the league has been moving in that direction of the past decade, and it’d be nice for once for the Fire to keep up with their peers.==
Yeah, it’s a shame there isn’t a stadium purpose-built for soccer which could house both of Chicago’s pro teams. That would fix a whole bunch of issues.
…
Hey, wait a sec here.
Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:20 pm
Duel usage football / baseball stadiums have a sad history. The fields are different and everything else follows. Does anyone know a duel use place that is well liked?
Comment by James in Little Italy Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:27 pm
===Never been there, but I just pulled up some pics and it looks quite nice.===
It is. A fine 20,000-seater with immaculate grass (except when one-time Fire ownership was intentionally neglecting it as a power play.) The logistical concerns of getting to and from it are mainly for city residents; it’s less of a hassle than Comiskey by car.
I took our kids to a Red Stars game there after the 2019 World Cup. Crowd was over 15,000 and they were instantly hooked. Ownership has been tumultuous to neglectful in the years since, which explains the low attendance and low finishes in the standings. I hope the Ricketts group starts turning things around, but there’s no need to do so at the expense of the taxpayer.
The Chicago Hounds play pro rugby now there, too, if that’s more your speed.
Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:29 pm
== Gather all the billionaires together in one room with everything they want and tell them all no ==
Gather all the team owning billionaires together in one room with everything they want and tell them to find some of the readily available billionaires who’d invest in new stadiums if they got some equity in their MLB / NFL franchises.
Tell the Ricketts to bring their two minority partners who did exactly that as proof of concept…easy peasy.
Comment by ChicagoBars Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:30 pm
There simply is no argument to be made that funding the development of a stadium benefits taxpayers. It benefits those that attend these facilities and that’s increasingly become a luxury afforded the wealthy. Putting money into a stadium, be it for the Bears or White Sox, only serves to enhance the long term financial prospects of their ownership groups.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:31 pm
This whole thing is bizarre and absolutely appropriate and symbolic for two bad owners of currently bad sports franchises. Let’s take the Bears for example. They spend hundreds of millions to buy Arlington and demolish it before even having an agreement on taxes. Who does that? Just a complete failure. But, what it also showed is that the Bear could afford to pay hundreds of millions out of their operations. So why again can’t they afford a new stadium on their own?
And then there’s Jerry, probably the most hated owner (or 2nd most hated) in town. Talk about the gang that can’t shoot straight.
Still at NOPE - Not One Penny Ever. And if either or both of these yahoos want to move the GA and Gov off of NOPE, they better come back with a more fully thought out concept and a well developed study showing specifically how this is a good deal for the taxpayers. But since they won’t, NOPE.
Comment by New Day Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 1:51 pm
Sounds like the Governor and Senate President are 95% opposed and will be very difficult to get them to yes.
Comment by low level Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 2:04 pm
==Yeah, it’s a shame there isn’t a stadium purpose-built for soccer which could house both of Chicago’s pro teams. That would fix a whole bunch of issues.==
I’m aware of Toyota/SeatGeek Stadium, went there a half-dozen times while the Fire still played there. Loved the venue itself, but hated having to sit in a vehicle for the hour it took to get out of the gravel parking lot after a match, then the additional 30 minutes it took to go the few miles to the interstate since the infrastructure couldn’t handle the traffic. Never mind the utter lack of amenities around the stadium and lack of public transit to get there.
Regardless, the teams have made clear they don’t see it as a viable option moving forward, so I’ll reiterate my hope for a stadium within the city that allows for public transit and things to do pre/post match.
Comment by Treefiddy Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 2:10 pm
In other words….
“Bears and Sox doing a good job,” say Bears and Sox.
Comment by TJ Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 2:35 pm
=The Chicago Hounds play pro rugby now there, too, if that’s more your speed.=
Major League Rugby liked SeatGeek so much that in the Hounds’ inaugural year, SeatGeek hosted the league championship.
There are also a number of turf fields adjacent to the stadium that are available for local teams/leagues to use.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 3:17 pm
The reason no details have emerged is that the proposals are indefensible as uses of taxpayer money and they would prefer a backroom deal. Sadly for them, times have changed in Springfield (I hope).
Comment by Jibba Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 7:18 pm
THere’s no case they can make that would persuade me to be OK with the state forking over the money for any sports team - Bears, White Sox, Red Stars. Same goes for the City and Wrigley security upgrades whatever those would be.
Comment by Jeremy Rosen Wednesday, Feb 28, 24 @ 10:58 pm