Should tax dollars be used to fund Chicago stadiums?

A rendering of the interior of a proposed new stadium for the White Sox at The 78 in the South Loop.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

The White Sox, Bears and Red Stars all want new stadiums. Should taxpayers foot the bill?

Is it Sox on 35th or the Sox in South Loop?

A rendering of the interior of a proposed new stadium for the White Sox at The 78 in the South Loop.

By Micah Yason

Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who also owns the Chicago Bulls, recently traveled to Springfield to ask the state for public funding to back plans to move the team from 35th Street to the South Loop. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has expressed his reluctance to fund the move whereas Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been more open to the idea. But as taxpayers, how is this investment going to benefit us?

Reset gets the latest on the White Sox and sits down with a public finance expert to talk about why and how our tax dollars go toward funding sports stadiums.

GUESTS: Cheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ sports contributor

Justin Marlowe, research professor, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy