Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has rejected a proposal from White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and says taxpayer money will not be used to fund a new stadium.
The proposal included moving the White Sox home to Chicago’s South Loop at a property known as the “The 78”. The Chicago Federation of Labor’s president Bob Reiter called the project “very exciting for the city”. The project also received vocal support from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Reinsdorf and the White Sox requested state legislators to authorize the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to extend or issue new bonds, utilizing the existing 2% hotel occupancy tax currently allocated for repaying bonds associated with Guaranteed Rate Field. This proposal doesn't involve imposing a new tax but aims to extend the duration or potentially introduce new bonds. But Pritzker has balked at the idea.
“A billion-dollar investment in a private business for a private business, rather, that’s owned by wealthy people and is a highly valued enterprise, it seems like the taxpayers, rightly should say, ‘Don’t we have other uses for that capital?’”, Pritzker told ABC 7 News.
This statement comes after Pritzker told reporters last February that he would be reluctant to fund any stadium projects unless the investment yields a long-term return for taxpayers.
“I think I’ve been really clear about the fact the taxpayer's dollars are precious. The idea of taking taxpayer dollars and subsidizing the building of a stadium as opposed to, for example, subsidizing the building of a birthing center, just to give the example, does not seem like the stadium ought to have higher priority,” Pritzker said.
Rumors recently were leaked that Reinsdorf was in conversations with Dave Stewart about selling the team. The former All-Star pitcher was part of the Music City Baseball Group, an organization dedicated to bringing an MLB franchise to the Nashville area.
In February Reinsdorf predicted during an interview with Crain’s that Chicago would lose the White Sox without a new stadium. Reinsdorf said that after his death his son Michael "will have an obligation to do what's best" for other investors. This likely means selling the team, which in Reinsdorf's eyes will be worth more if they are located downtown.
Many have speculated that Reinsdorf is using the rumors about moving the team to Nashville as leverage as he did in 1991 when he threatened to move the White Sox to St. Petersburg, Florida, before financing came together at the last minute to fund a new stadium which was built directly across from the original Comiskey Park.
Manfred was asked about the possibility of the White Sox relocating by Danny Parkins on FS1's Breakfast Ball and called Chicago an "anchor city for us." However, he left the door open for a possible move.
"I think the White Sox are in a difficult situation," Manfred said. "I think the location of the stadium is tough but I have confidence that things are going to work out in Chicago and we will continue to have two teams in Chicago."
