News broke last night that the White Sox are in “serious” discussions with developers and the city of Chicago about the possibility of building a new stadium on the South Loop parcel known as “the 78.”  The lot is located on the corner of Roosevelt Road and Clark Street, about three miles north of the team’s current home on 35th Street.  In a joint statement from Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said, “We met to discuss the historic partnership between the team and Chicago and the team’s ideas for remaining competitive in Chicago in perpetuity.”

The team’s current lease at Guaranteed Rate Field runs through 2029.  Last summer, news broke that Reinsdorf was considering selling the team and/or moving them to a new location, either elsewhere in Chicago, the suburbs, or Nashville, Tennessee, when that lease expires.  Will anything come of this?  Potentially.  A new stadium on the river would (or could) provide a spectacular backdrop with views of the downtown skyline and, with the Bears looking to move to Arlington Heights, I can imagine the city would not want to lose another team.  I still believe the most likely outcome is a new lease at Guaranteed Rate Field, but time will tell.