Sox fans should worry if Reinsdorf sells
By Monica Eng, Carrie Shepherd and Justin Kaufmann, Axios News
Oct 18, 2024
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is open to selling the franchise, according to The Athletic.
Why it matters: The issue is not selling the team but who Reinsdorf wants to sell the team to.
Context: He is reportedly in talks with a group that is hell-bent on bringing a baseball franchise to Nashville.
Flashback: It's not the first time Reinsdorf has flirted with the Music City. The embattled owner reportedly met with Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell during last year's baseball meetings.
The discussion was reportedly "introductory in nature," and at the time Reinsdorf brushed aside any seriousness to the talks.
The intrigue: Chicagoans are very familiar with Reinsdorf's moves. In the 1980s, he threatened to leave for St. Petersburg, Florida, unless the state ponied up cash for a new stadium to replace the aging Comiskey Park.
It worked. The state helped finance New Comiskey Park (now Guaranteed Rate), which opened in 1991.
Between the lines: Reinsdorf's alleged shift also coincides with his push to have the city and state help finance a new stadium in the South Loop.
Yes, but: Gov. JB Pritzker has thrown cold water on allocating public funds for private stadiums.
Zoom out: The reported interest in Nashville marks a complete reversal for Reinsdorf, who has resisted selling the team, signaling he wants to pass the franchise on to his heirs.
The White Sox released a statement Wednesday that didn't address a potential sale, saying they don't comment on rumors.
The bottom line: It's unclear whether this is just another gambit to get state leaders to change their stance on funding.
Fans have been clamoring for change at the top, but this may not be what they hoped for.
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