White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf angers fans over ‘possibility of Nashville move away from South Side’
- The White Sox have called the South Side home since the 1991 MLB season
- Prior to public funding for his stadium, Reinsdorf threatened to move
- offers the latest international sports news
The Chicago White Sox are reportedly considering options, including leaving Chicago before the lease with the guaranteed rate field ends in 2029 — and in doing so have angered some of their fans.
According to Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business, the Sox are considering moving to the greater Chicago area, but moving to another city, such as baseball-hungry Nashville, is an alternative.
Hinz cited “knowledgeable sources” who told Chicago Business that owner Jerry Reinsdorf – who also owns the Bulls – sees a new stadium near or in Chicago or a move to Nashville as “opportunities.”
Naturally, the report caused an uproar among Sox fans on social media, with many using X to vent their frustration.
According to a report by Crain’s Chicago Business, there’s a chance the Sox will leave their stadium
White Sox – and Bulls – owner Jerry Reinsdorf has already threatened to move the franchise
Fans reacted to the relocation report with one user saying the recent layoffs were a shill
“The sad thing is that Reinsdorf is such a money greedy person. I can imagine him trying to move the team to Nashville and make even more money,” wrote one user.
A Nashville baseball fan reacted with disappointment to news of the Sox’s possible arrival in the Tennessee hotspot.
“If we need to get an AL [team], I want the Rays! Who wants a loser organization?’
Speaking to the outlet, the White Sox didn’t rule out the possibility of a move — be it from Chicago or Illinois itself.
“We haven’t had discussions about our rental situation, but with six years left it’s obviously approaching a time when discussions should start,” team spokesman Scott Reifert told the outlet.
“The talks would be with the city, ISFA and the state and would most likely be about vision, opportunity and the future.”
ISFA is the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. Even if no concrete decision will be made in the foreseeable future, there are already changes in the Sox front office.
The 87-year-old is also the subject of rumors he may be ready to sell the franchise. According to the report, an anonymous developer from Chicago is “preparing an offer” to secure should the organization wish to stay but move out of Bridgeport.
Nashville has long been considered the next home of a new or existing MLB franchise
It’s been another tough season for the White Sox – spearheaded by the loss suffered by Tim Anderson (r.) during a fight with the Guardians’ Jose Ramirez in an Aug. 5 win in Cleveland
The organization announced Tuesday night that it had fired executive vice president Kenny Williams and senior vice president/general manager Rick Hahn.
An X user said it was just a ploy to distract from the move report.
“They had to do something to defuse the rumors about the Nashville White Sox,” he said.
It’s been another disappointing season for the South Side franchise, which sits bottom in the AL Central.
Under Reinsdorf’s ownership, the team threatened to relocate to Tampa Bay before moving to its publicly funded current home, then known as Comiskey Park, in 1991.
Should the Sox leave the South Side, it would be another blow to Chicagoans, who could soon lose the Bears, who are increasingly likely to leave downtown Chi-town since Soldier Field’s lease expires in late 2033.