Related Midwest releases renderings of proposed White Sox ballpark

February 9th, 2024
Credit: Related Midwest

CHICAGO -- Related Midwest released artist renderings of The 78, a proposed development featuring the White Sox new ballpark in the South Loop area, on Wednesday.

The team's current lease at Guaranteed Rate Field -- located in the Bridgeport neighborhood and owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority -- expires after the 2029 season. This new baseball-only ballpark has been compared to the Braves' Truist Park at The Battery in Atlanta and would stand at the center of various entertainment options in the neighboring area.

Credit: Related Midwest
Credit: Related Midwest

The five renderings of the ballpark featured picturesque views of the Riverwalk and Chicago River, near where the ballpark would be situated, as well as a downtown view. Another ballpark rendering featured large glass windows with a massive video board as part of the structure.

“The development would be a catalyst for the creation of Chicago’s next great neighborhood, create tens of thousands of permanent and construction jobs and bring a state-of-the-art White Sox ballpark to the South Loop riverfront,” a spokesperson for Related Midwest said in a statement issued with the renderings.

Credit: Related Midwest
Credit: Related Midwest

Ideas for redevelopment of the 35th & Shields neighborhood, where the White Sox currently reside, were part of the renderings. It would be a reimagined campus with active streets and new housing opportunities, according to Related Midwest, with the current Guaranteed Rate potentially converted into a soccer stadium.

Credit: Related Midwest
Credit: Related Midwest

“While we do not own the land at 35th & Shields, Related Midwest has a long history of working in communities,” a spokesperson said in a second statement with the renderings. “We knew there would be questions about 35th St. use, so we put together conceptual ideas, understanding there would be a robust community process to determine the best use for this land. “