Detailed Proposal: Relocating Chicago White Sox to Las Vegas

This project presents a detailed proposal for the relocation of the Chicago White Sox, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, from Chicago, Illinois, to Las Vegas, Nevada. The proposal provides an overview of the team's history, including its championships and postseason appearances. It outlines the relocation process, including the request for proposal (RFP), legal challenges, and committee approvals. The project also addresses challenges such as the existing stadium lease and league realignments. Potential solutions are explored, including different timelines for the relocation. The proposal includes rebranding strategies, such as a new team name (Las Vegas Black Jacks), logo, and colors. It analyzes the potential for sponsorship and promotion, including leveraging social media, website integration, and player endorsements. The project highlights the advantages of Las Vegas as a destination, including its large population, tourism, and existing minor league baseball presence. It also discusses the success of the Vegas Golden Knights, the availability of a suitable stadium, and the potential for increased revenue. The document concludes with a discussion of the proposed stadium's features and the development of a baseball district.

White Sox to Las Vegas

Overview
Proposal for the Chicago White Sox to relocate to Las
Vegas, Nevada.
To-do
● About
● History
● Relocation (League)
● Why leave?
● Why Las Vegas
● Rebranding
● Product/service
● Pricing
● Placement
● Promotion

About:
● 1 of 2 Chicago based
Major League Baseball
(MLB) teams
● Located in the south of
Chicago
● Play at Guaranteed Rate
Field
● In the American League
Central division
● Owner is Jerry Reinsdorf
Courtesy of Google.com

Team History
● Derived from the minor league team Sioux City Cornhuskers
● Been in Chicago since its opening season in 1901
● 3 World Series championships 1906, 1917 & 2005
● 6 American League (AL) Pennants: Most recent-2005

Continued
● Second longest World Series Championship
drought through history (87 years).
● 11 postseason appearances since 1901
according to ESPN
● 10 year postseason appearance drought
● 13 year championship drought
www.espn.com/mlb/history/teams/_/team/CHW

Relocation Process
● Starts with a request for proposal (RFP)
○ Announcement style
○ Notice to all markets that have an interest in the club
● Process doesn’t start till any legal challenges are cleared (Stadium lease
& Lawsuits)
● Clear the “home market option”
● The league then forms a relocation committee to approve all plans
https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2019/01/07/inside-how-mlb-relocation-and-expansion-would-play-out/#1e5635a6634d

Relocation Process Cont.
● Relocation committee could
recommend a vote
○ Other MLB committees could
recommend a vote as well
● 75% of the leagues owners would
need to approve
○ Last vote was the Expo’s to D.C and
with a 29-1 vote
● Realignment negotiations
● Very lengthy investment
https://www.forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2019/01/07/inside-how-mlb-relocation-and-expansion-would-play-out/#1e5635a6634d

Challenges for The White Sox
● Guaranteed Rate Field is
owned by Illinois Sports
Facilities Authority (ISFA)
● 13 year naming rights deal
with Retail Mortgage Lender.
● Signed in 2016

Challenges cont.
● The White Sox lease ends
2029
● Signed a five year deal with
NBC Sports Chicago in
December 2018
● Realignment of league

White Sox Ranking

Potential Solutions
● Officially leave Chicago in
2029 (cost effective)
○ Live out the whole stadium
lease
○ Allow time for stadium to built
○ Proper time to end all deals

Option 2
● Break lease and leave
immediately (most
expensive)
○ Potential lawsuits from
city and tv networks and
existing sponsors
○ Find a stadium to play in