The Armour Square Park Fieldhouse was packed Thursday night with angry Bridgeport residents, all waiting to question what exactly Amtrak had in store for their neighborhood. With local representatives 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee and Illinois Rep. Theresa Mah in attendance, residents were hoping that voicing their displeasure could provide hope of halting Amtrak’s plans.
Even after the fieldhouse was closed, attendees stood outside waiting to speak with Amtrak representatives and Lee. There’s a great deal of concern about this industrial maintenance facility, which will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, being built in people’s backyards, and adding more air, noise, and light pollution to Bridgeport -- all without any insight or consent from local residents.
It’s certain that Amtrak’s plans also impact the Chicago White Sox.
Amtrak construction plans will impact White Sox parking in 2027
Amtrak announced that Union Pacific has agreed to sell the Canal Street rail yards bordering Rate Field. In fall of 2026, Amtrak will use that time to obtain permits and begin site prep work on what it is calling the north and south branches of this project. They hope to start construction on all maintenance facilities at the beginning of 2027.
Amtrak is planning on using Lots G and C in 2027, as well as Shields street, in building their new maintenance facility.
— Josh Nelson - Sox Machine (@soxmachine_josh) August 20, 2026
So the White Sox and ISFA will have to be involved @SoxMachine pic.twitter.com/Hki7R4K0AG
Based on images shared during the presentation, the south branch splits Rate Field's C and G lots over the 33rd Street viaduct. While plans place this facility on the tracks between the C and G lots, Amtrak will need space around the railyard to stage equipment and crew. With construction expected to take more than 12 months, Amtrak’s new maintenance facility could impact White Sox fans attempting to park at Rate Field next season, and possibly in 2028.
Amtrak has received a categorical exclusion from the federal government, which means it can forgo any environmental assessment of the land. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) grants these exclusions for projects that "do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment."
Once completed, the industrial maintenance facility will operate around the clock near Rate Field, which is quite the opposite type of development any Major League Baseball team has been seeking near their ballparks.
Bridgeport residents point finger at Justin Ishbia
Between Mandarin translations and Zoom issues, Amtrak representatives were frequently heckled to skip the sales presentation and start answering questions. When answers felt deflective or unsatisfactory, you could hear residents murmuring about Justin Ishbia. Bridgeport residents are not oblivious. They know this Amtrak project is being pushed in their backyard to make room for a new White Sox stadium in the South Loop.
Speaking with sources, Jerry Reinsdorf has warmed up to the possibility of a new White Sox stadium at Ishbia’s proposed 14th Street location. With the Chicago Bears' stadium drama still ongoing, the original pipe dream of having Illinois residents pay for a new White Sox stadium is even less likely. What makes this whole ordeal odd is how much money and work Ishbia is conducting without actually having decision-making power within the White Sox.
Ishbia could gain full power as early as the end of 2029 if Reinsdorf exercises his option to sell the White Sox. But Reinsdorf has that option until 2034, when it flips to Ishbia, who can then activate his option to purchase the team. According to sources, even if Reinsdorf, who is 90 years old, were to pass away, his controlling interest stays within the family. The trustees would then decide whether to activate any option to sell to Ishbia, so even in case of death, the transition to Ishbia is not automatic.
Key questions remain. City and state representatives expected to provide answers and context feel blindsided and left in the dark.
Why is Ishbia going through all this work of creating new companies, hiring lobbyists and contractors, all to push Amtrak out of their South Loop location?
Why did Amtrak pick a heavily trafficked area for their new facilities within a residential area?
Why is this happening to Bridgeport?
More is to unfold in Ishbia's grand South Loop development plan. Next Wednesday is the second planned community meeting between Bridgeport residents and Amtrak. This event will take place at Pui Tak Center starting at 5:30 p.m. CT. By then, we may have more answers about Amtrak's maintenance facility project, but that won't lessen the sting already felt by the White Sox's current neighbors.
