White Sox chairman-in-waiting Justin Ishbia eyeing South Loop rail yard for possible stadium

No room for a White Sox stadium at The 78?

That might not be a problem for the team’s chairman-in-waiting, Justin Ishbia, who is moving to buy land just across the Chicago River from the South Loop site long coveted by Sox ownership to build a new home.

Ishbia’s private equity firm Shore Capital Partners “is under contract to acquire the Amtrak rail yard and has begun early planning for a mixed-use development” on the site, which is adjacent to the river south of Roosevelt Road, a spokesperson for the Sox minority owner said Wednesday.

The spokesperson said Shore Capital is exploring the development of “a potential healthcare facility and medical innovation hub” in partnership with Northwestern Medicine.

But sources close to the proposal say Ishbia is also mulling a stadium for the 47-acre plot, which neighbors other rail yards that would likely have to change hands in order for any potential Sox project to break ground.

Ishbia’s spokesperson didn’t confirm the 48-year-old billionaire’s westward stadium exploration, and noted any decisions about the team’s home rest solely with Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. The plan was first reported by Crain’s Chicago Business.

The team announced a potential succession plan last year that would give Ishbia the option to buy a controlling interest from Reinsdorf as early as 2029, the same year the Sox’ lease at Rate Field is up.

Sox spokesman Scott Reifert said the team’s focus “has been and continues to be solely on the potential of a new ballpark at The 78.”

But the Sox have been stymied for two years since first floating glitzy renderings of a skyline-facing stadium on the east side of the river. Reinsdorf traveled to Springfield himself to lobby state lawmakers for public funding to support his 78 vision to no avail, while the Bears continue to haggle for legislative help to stay in Illinois.

The Chicago Fire broke ground earlier this month on a $750 million stadium near Roosevelt and Clark — fully funded by billionaire owner Joe Mansueto — and local Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) has said she’s against trying to squeeze two stadiums into one of the city’s fastest growing neighborhoods.

Mayor Brandon Johnson said the team has told his office "they want to stay in Chicago. They're looking at different spaces that could make sense for the White Sox, so we're going to continue to have conversations with people. It's clear that all of our sports teams want to stay in Chicago."

Ishbia has all but guaranteed a new home for the Sox at some point if he takes the reins, and the rail yard site would give the team just as dramatic an outfield view as one from The 78, not to mention the potential for home runs splashing into the river.

“Whether a new stadium occurs in four years or 34 years, I don’t know, but I’m going to be involved in a stadium at some point with the White Sox,” Ishbia told the Sun-Times last fall after meeting the team’s most famous fan, Pope Leo XIV, who has an open invitation to throw out the first pitch.

Not that any of that could happen anytime soon.

“I have zero to do with the organization today. I’m a passive owner. And by the way, I don’t want to use the word 'owner.' I use the word 'steward.' For me, Jerry today is the chairman, and he is the steward of the franchise. And one day, I’ll have a good fortune of being the steward,” Ishbia said in November. “My view is, this is a community asset. This belongs to the city of Chicago. It’s my job as steward, when it’s my turn, to do my very best to create wonderful, happy memories and moments for Chicago fans all over the city and all over the world.”

An Amtrak spokesman said the agency “is pursuing all available opportunities to deliver a larger and improved Midwest maintenance facility that would bring rail assets into a state of good repair, enable faster train turnarounds, and enhance on‑time performance.”

Rick Harnish, executive director of the High Speed Rail Alliance — a nonprofit advocate for better rail networks — slammed the idea, calling it “unacceptable that Amtrak has been working for months to sell a critical national asset with no public engagement. This sale must be stopped. This property may be needed for access to and through Chicago Union Station to bring hourly passenger rail service to destinations around the Midwest.”

Northwestern Medicine spokesman Chris King said they’re “in the early stages of discussions about a potential health care facility as part of this development. Consistent with our recent expansions in neighborhoods such as Bronzeville and Old Irving Park, we continue to explore opportunities to bring world‑class, compassionate care closer to where our patients live and work. This potential project would allow us to further expand our footprint in the South Loop.”