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Ishbia increasing minority stake in Sox


Fielder Jones

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Is it BETTER to root for the White Sox to lose more than 121 games to put additional pressure on the Reinsdorfs to acquiesce with the Bulls also collapsing?

Or to root for his death?  That seems too macabre.

Because both options for White Sox fans absolutely stink.

To root for the Cubs to have a deep playoff run and get ALL the attention in Chicago...beginning with the Tokyo Series and NPB exhibition coming up in the middle of March (leaving the 12th)???

 

But we're in a position of hoping that the minority shareholders don't see any light at the end of the tunnel and give up (getting even more money from the Ishbias)...or that he actually has to start offering LESS than $1.8 team valuation per share to get them off the fence if the team continues to struggle on the field, with tv radio ratings/sponsorships AND with getting a new stadium built relying primarily on the Reinsdorfs...which isn't going ANYWHERE at the moment.

 

 

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  On 3/3/2025 at 12:44 AM, Dick Allen said:

I doubt it. We didn’t know he bought them before. We have no idea how much Reinsdorfs sons bought. We don’t know how much Melody Hobson has or even if she still has them. Considering he already owns shares, if he needs more approval, I’m sure it’s a formality.

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This.  We literally know nothing behind the scenes.  Unless it is Ishibas camp leaking,  we may not know anything for a long time 

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  On 3/3/2025 at 1:49 AM, southsider2k5 said:

This.  We literally know nothing behind the scenes.  Unless it is Ishibas camp leaking,  we may not know anything for a long time 

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Again, could be Ishbia’s camp, could be the minority owners who are selling, could be the banks overseeing the transaction, could be the MLB executives approving the transaction.  There are so many parties involved, this thing will leak to some degree.  This is completely different than Ishbia buying a couple percentage points in the team when he wasn’t on anyone’s radar.  He will likely be the majority shareholder when it’s all said and that’s a massive fucking deal.  People like Greenberg will be hounding anyone and everyone to get the scoop on this because we all know this is happening.  Jerry may not want this to leak, but this is so much greater than him at this point he won’t be able to control it.

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  On 3/3/2025 at 1:56 AM, Chicago White Sox said:

Again, could be Ishbia’s camp, could be the minority owners who are selling, could be the banks overseeing the transaction, could be the MLB executives approving the transaction.  There are so many parties involved, this thing will leak to some degree.  This is completely different than Ishbia buying a couple percentage points in the team when he wasn’t on anyone’s radar.  He will likely be the majority shareholder when it’s all said and that’s a massive fucking deal.  People like Greenberg will be hounding anyone and everyone to get the scoop on this because we all know this is happening.  Jerry may not want this to leak, but this is so much greater than him at this point he won’t be able to control it.

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From a PR standpoint...if he's not the majority shareholder right now...it could only be Mellody Hobson at 30%.

Both are huge stories that will have to come out eventually.

If we believe she actually acquired the shares with Lucas from 2021-22.

 

How many of the remaining shateholders are willing to invest millions into a new White Sox stadium?

Can't be many non billionaires on that list.

And will the one minority shateholder (father died and passed on shares) connected to partying with Clevinger Plesac during Covid take the money and run?

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  On 3/3/2025 at 1:56 AM, Chicago White Sox said:

Again, could be Ishbia’s camp, could be the minority owners who are selling, could be the banks overseeing the transaction, could be the MLB executives approving the transaction.  There are so many parties involved, this thing will leak to some degree.  This is completely different than Ishbia buying a couple percentage points in the team when he wasn’t on anyone’s radar.  He will likely be the majority shareholder when it’s all said and that’s a massive fucking deal.  People like Greenberg will be hounding anyone and everyone to get the scoop on this because we all know this is happening.  Jerry may not want this to leak, but this is so much greater than him at this point he won’t be able to control it.

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Like the Hobson stuff floated out, but never got any actual reporting?

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  On 3/2/2025 at 11:41 PM, Dick Allen said:

I don’t agree. We have never known the breakdown. In fact, in the Tribune story about 10 years ago, the investors didn’t know who owned what. They speculated and JR said they were wrong. How wrong, only he knows, and he won’t say anything. Since Ishbia already had shares, he probably doesn’t need more approval. Even Greenberg said he has no idea how many investors there are. It could be 30 it could be much less. I’m sure JR isn’t happy the story got out that Ishbia did this after speaking with him. 

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That is bullshit.  There is literally no way they don't know who owns what.  Simply for tax purposes and filing with the state, there is no way.  That was just some nonsense started by JRs cheap ass since he didn't want people to know how little of the team he actually owns.  Everyone who is part of the White Sox knows what they control and most probably know the exact amounts of every single member.  Obviously them telling the public is a different matter, but they certainly know.

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Let's assume Reinsdorf and Sons are at 20%.

Hobson, just for argument's sake, 30%.

50% unaccounted, for other than the 5-10% Ishbia was reported to have purchased as early as 2021.

 

That means Ishbia wouldn't even be at 50%, unless Mellody/Lucas sold their shares to him at the $1.8 valuation.

In theory, they could have tried to also buy a controlling interest, or could JR lock them out/block them for the Ishbia's bid/offer???

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  On 3/3/2025 at 4:05 AM, soulfly said:

That is bullshit.  There is literally no way they don't know who owns what.  Simply for tax purposes and filing with the state, there is no way.  That was just some nonsense started by JRs cheap ass since he didn't want people to know how little of the team he actually owns.  Everyone who is part of the White Sox knows what they control and most probably know the exact amounts of every single member.  Obviously them telling the public is a different matter, but they certainly know.

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Of course they know their percentage. They don't know the others. They don't need to know the others. Only JR knows. You probably own stock. Do you know who owns what? There was a huge article about White Sox ownership in the Tribune around 10 years ago.  They spoke to several investors who knew what they owned and not much more, but Jerry has made them a lot of money so they couldn't care less.

Edited by Dick Allen
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  On 3/3/2025 at 1:02 PM, Dick Allen said:

Of course they know their percentage. They don't know the others. They don't need to know the others. Only JR knows. You probably own stock. Do you know who owns what? There was a huge article about White Sox ownership in the Tribune around 10 years ago.  They spoke to several investors who knew what they owned and not much more, but Jerry has made them a lot of money so they couldn't care less.

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Only for publicly traded companies when someone owns at least let’s say 5% of the company…you can see which mutual funds, retirement/pension funds own pretty much exactly how many shares and when they were purchased or sold and at what price.

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  On 3/3/2025 at 2:15 AM, caulfield12 said:

From a PR standpoint...if he's not the majority shareholder right now...it could only be Mellody Hobson at 30%.

Both are huge stories that will have to come out eventually.

If we believe she actually acquired the shares with Lucas from 2021-22.

 

How many of the remaining shateholders are willing to invest millions into a new White Sox stadium?

Can't be many non billionaires on that list.

And will the one minority shateholder (father died and passed on shares) connected to partying with Clevinger Plesac during Covid take the money and run?

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The stadium could be a completely different group of investors, it could overlap. The problem is stadiums don't seem to be a money maker or every team, every city, every PE group would be jumping at the chance to build one. 

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I believe the most likely scenario is that in the beginning everyone knew who was involved in putting together the bid that ultimately was successful in buying the team. Iirc there were about thirty civic minded investors. 

Could some shares have changed hands and the buyers identity kept secret from the other owners? Possibly. But not likely. There is a board of directors which is public. Each of the owners would have access to them at the very least and they would have access to each of the owners. 

Do they get together for a pre season pachanga? No. 

 

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  On 3/3/2025 at 12:44 AM, Dick Allen said:

I doubt it. We didn’t know he bought them before. We have no idea how much Reinsdorfs sons bought. We don’t know how much Melody Hobson has or even if she still has them. Considering he already owns shares, if he needs more approval, I’m sure it’s a formality.

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  On 3/3/2025 at 1:49 AM, southsider2k5 said:

This.  We literally know nothing behind the scenes.  Unless it is Ishibas camp leaking,  we may not know anything for a long time 

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Agreed.  Assuming this is all true and not some total pipe dream, I don't expect to hear any additional information about this for quite a while. 

If the eventual transfer of ownership to Ishbia is indeed going to happen, this is when I'd expect we'd get more information:

1. When Uncle Jerry is officially ready to announce a succession/sale plan - which could be at least a year from now if not longer.

2. If some tentative agreement is reached for a new South Loop ballpark that involves new ownership paying for most, if not all, of the stadium itself with the city/state agreeing to pay for infrastructure.

3. A sudden change in Reinsdorf's health that forces disclosure of this plan.  

 

Edited by 77 Hitmen
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  On 3/4/2025 at 1:49 AM, caulfield12 said:

"Ishbia’s seem like they try, have a lot of money and make stupid emotional decisions that screw it all up."

Direct quote from my grad school mate who has worked in the NBA since 1993 (Orlando, Seattle, Milwaukee, Atlanta).

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I'm perfectly fine with that. Sure beat the "has no money, and makes stupid emotional decisions that screw it all up (LaRussa)."

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  On 3/4/2025 at 1:49 AM, caulfield12 said:

"Ishbia’s seem like they try, have a lot of money and make stupid emotional decisions that screw it all up."

Direct quote from my grad school mate who has worked in the NBA since 1993 (Orlando, Seattle, Milwaukee, Atlanta).

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Much better than, we tried to recreate the Brooklyn Dodgers and why aren't fans supporting us...

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  On 3/4/2025 at 1:49 AM, caulfield12 said:

"Ishbia’s seem like they try, have a lot of money and make stupid emotional decisions that screw it all up."

Direct quote from my grad school mate who has worked in the NBA since 1993 (Orlando, Seattle, Milwaukee, Atlanta).

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I'll take my chances with a multi-billionaire who is rooted in Chicagoland and who is apparently willing to spend big time on his teams as the next Sox owner any day of the week and twice on Sunday....even if he and his brother have made mistakes in their first couple of years owning the Suns.  

The idea that he might actually buy the Sox almost sounds too good to be true to me.

Edited by 77 Hitmen
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