Amid possible White Sox and Chicago Fire South Loop stadium, Chinatown community raises displacement concerns

By South Loop TV News Team

Advocates in Chinatown are concerned about the effects that a possible soccer and baseball stadium would have on the community, who are already facing rising rent and a lack of affordable housing. 

The Chicago White Sox have been eyeing the South Loop for a new ballpark, and the purchase of Amtrak’s 47 square acre rail yard might be the start of that move. 

Justin Ishbia, the future majority owner of the baseball team, is looking to buy the rail yard through his private equity firm, Shore Capital Partners. 

The yard sits between Roosevelt Road and 18th Street, just across the Chicago River from “The 78,” a development where the Chicago Fire recently broke ground on a new soccer stadium. 

Both of these developments have been raising concerns among the Chinatown community about the effects on residents. 

Sarah Tang, the director of programs for Chicago’s Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, said the sports teams could displace some immigrant residents who are already struggling to pay rising rent costs. 

“Having two stadiums north of Chinatown is extremely concerning, especially with baseball being a much bigger sport in the city,” she said. “The impact of two stadiums – I don’t even know how to measure what kind of displacement that would bring.” 

Tang urged community members to come together and support a community benefits agreement for residents, holding the sports teams and their owners accountable for the effect they may have on residents.

Reporter: Sydney Richardson

Camera: Miguel Guerrero

Web Writer: Matt Brady