The White Sox and "the 78": A match made in heaven

I don't know anything about commercial real estate, have no inside information to offer, and my knowledge of relocation-type items is dangerously close to zilch— BUT I have good instincts.

My instincts and intuition tell me that the recently rumored and/or proposed White Sox stadium built in the South Loop area known as "The 78" is a perfect match.

Think about it.

The White Sox, if they built a stadium in this area, would easily connect with the West Loop, Chinatown, Bronzeville, and other surrounding Chicago neighborhoods. It could quickly arrive as a thriving, energetic addition to the city landscape and become a destination of sorts for many Chicagoans— including White Sox fans!

In addition to baseball, you could have concerts and special events, and better yet, if it is domed, hold conferences and conventions there, just to name a few possibilities. It is the perfect spot, and what's more, there is plenty of land available.

The area known as “The 78” is a huge parcel of open space bordered by Roosevelt Road to the North, 16th Street to the South, Clark Street to the East, and the beautiful Chicago River to the West. Right now, there is a lot of gravel, dirt, fences, and railroads. Not much going on, and if not a full-blown eyesore, at the very least, a maddening minor irritation.

What makes it even more enticing is that the area nearby is already bustling. On numerous expeditions this past summer, I walked the area of Roosevelt Road heading West for multiple blocks, and you can see all the buildings going up or already in. Still, even more importantly, you can "feel" the growing energy there.

There is a young crowd for the most part (me being there at the time, the exception), but one that is still, you can tell, trying to develop a personality. It's not quite yet super crowded or "the place to be," like currently in the West Loop, The Gold Coast, or maybe Wicker Park, but it is on the cusp.

Think of it like a nervous teenager just starting to break out into the world. If it ever comes to fruition, this rebuild would jump-start that part of uncomfortable human development—if you want to stick with the growing up metaphor, by a quantum leap, taking it from early teens to full-grown adulthood in one giant leap.

A baseball stadium in the South Loop, with surrounding bars, restaurants, stores, and maybe a hotel or two? This is a match made in heaven.

Will White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf pull the trigger? Will he say bye-bye to Guaranteed Rate Field at 35th & Shields? Will the city make way for it and pass the legislation to get the ball moving?

All questions to be answered.

But my gut tells me it will happen. And if you build it? They will come.