I have no doubts about the splendor of the new Ryan Field stadium for Northwestern University’s Wildcat football games and other events as opined about by the Tribune Editorial Board. I just find it ironic if the renowned marching band were to choose to play Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” as part of any halftime performance. I have no doubts that the common man would not hear it because they/we/me can’t afford to attend a game.
The price for the least expensive ticket for the Oct. 2 grand-opening game against Penn State is more than $175, plus fees. For me, all four sons and my best friend to attend one game this season, as we’ve done annually for the last 25 years, would cost over $1,000. If I were to include two coming-of-age grandsons, the cost would approach $1,500.
One could speculate that the ticket price will drop for the nonconference game on Oct. 10 against Ball State, but that is doubtful. Either way, the cost of one game is approximately three times what I paid for a season ticket to games at what was then Dyche Stadium. And for the last nine years, while the Cats played at old Ryan Field, I bought two season tickets.
I have the framed ticket stub for the first Wildcat game I attended in 1981: price $10. My best friend and I attended at least one game a year for over 40 years. Sadly, he, my sons, my grandsons and I are now priced out of a family tradition even for one game. Over those years, the size of my television screen has expanded a lot. And I have no doubts that watching a Wildcats football game on the couch in the living room will be more comfortable than the seats at the new Ryan Field.
— Chris Donovan, Oak Park
Housing market transparency
I read Tomas J. Philipson’s piece “Chicago’s housing market shouldn’t have a hidden inventory” (Sept. 6) with significant concern. As Philipson notes, Compass is the biggest real estate brokerage in the country, with a major presence across Chicagoland. Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) operates the shared listing database that local agents use to help buyers find homes. It’s the closest thing our market has to a master list. The companies’ partnership expands a private listing network where homes can be visible to participating agents, including those outside Compass, without appearing on public search websites.
When buyers must search across separate networks, finding a suitable home can take more time and effort. Sellers whose properties receive less exposure may attract fewer competing offers. Access rules that disadvantage competing brokers can also weaken competition over commissions and service quality. These are concerns about how effectively the housing market serves both buyers and sellers.
Homeowners may reasonably value privacy over maximum exposure. Sharing previously private listings with additional agents can also improve access. Those potential benefits must be weighed against the risk that the partnership encourages homes that would otherwise be publicly advertised to remain private. Sellers should understand the trade-offs, and brokers’ incentives to recommend private marketing deserve scrutiny.
The U.S. Department of Justice and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul should formally investigate the Compass-MRED private listing network’s effects on competition. The investigation should examine who can access listings, on what terms and how those terms affect buyers’ search costs, sellers’ marketing options and competition among brokers. Buyers and sellers deserve clear answers about the arrangement’s benefits and costs.
Illinoisans deserve a housing market that is transparent and works for everyone.
— Jorge Lemus Encalada, economics professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
O’Hare Flyer a terrible idea
Regarding the editorial “Northwestern’s Ryan Field, Amtrak, Emanuel, Quantum, O’Hare Flyer all beset by objectors” (Sept. 9): It would take approximately 20 minutes by public transportation from a location such as the Equitable Building at 401 N. Michigan Ave. to get to the Old Post Office site, where the proposed O’Hare Flyer train station would be. If I am here on business on North Michigan Avenue, would I go south in traffic to go to O’Hare International Airport? In the past, I have worked in professional offices at the Equitable Building, as well as at Erie and St. Clair streets; Franklin Street and Chicago Avenue; Belmont Avenue and Halsted Street; and Erie and LaSalle Street. For none of these locations would it make sense to go to the Old Post Office to go to O’Hare.
Although O’Hare Flyer leader Dave Lundy and team discuss using buses to transport travelers to the Old Post Office, this would only add to the current traffic nightmare downtown. I don’t believe the buses would suddenly make the traffic in the Loop disperse and magically get business travelers and tourists to the station quickly and easily. If this moves forward, I suggest putting the luggage on the buses and giving everyone a Divvy bike. It would be faster for the travelers.
I invite the Tribune Editorial Board to my house in River Forest. We can discuss the safety issues the O’Hare Flyer presents to the children in the community and the community at large. Like others, I am quite close to the train tracks and can give board members a bird’s-eye view of the park this train line would put at risk. They can watch elementary school children use the streets and parks along the proposed train line as they bicycle to school.
I would further like the board to consider the impact this project would have on Thatcher Woods, a forest preserve, and on traffic on Madison Street, Chicago Avenue, Thatcher Avenue, First Avenue and Fifth Avenue.
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The problems with this idea go on and on. This is not a win. Fix the Blue Line. Offer express train service. There used to be an A-B skip stop. It can be done.
— Melinda Holm Peterson, River Forest
Shining a light on projects
Thanks for the positive editorial response to all the negative forces for those new, needed projects the editorial lists.
The Tribune Editorial Board is right. We need to find positive solutions and compromises and not focus just on the few negative effects of some really good projects that will benefit the majority of people in the Chicago area.
Keep those positive words coming!
— Tim Klein, Chicago
Who makes up Sox, Cubs fans
Laura Washington’s column (“This lifelong Cubs fan from the South Side is seeing a lot of Sox love on the North Side,” Sept. 9) on why White Sox fans might be showing up among Red Line riders exhibits the sports-loyalty blinders common among those who were born and grew up in Chicago. Chicagoland is a dynamic region, and, shockingly, many Sox and Cubs fans are not natives.
I’ve lived here more than 46 years, and though I’m primarily a Cubs fan (I live north of the city), I grew up rooting for the woebegone Washington Senators. Hence, I’m happy to root for and attend games of both Chicago baseball teams, even if natives regard this as heresy. Moreover, those whom Washington sees on the Red Line don’t necessarily live within city limits. Many suburbanites drive or take public transport to the Purple or Yellow lines or to a Red Line station. And, again, even suburbanites who grew up here don’t necessarily feel the geographic-boundary loyalty needs of more passionate fans.
Finally, as the area around Sox park has become safer, more North Siders feel comfortable taking the Red Line there to see what many of us value most of all — good baseball.
By the way, if the stars don’t align for the Cubs and White Sox to play each other in the World Series or for the Cubs to face the Red Sox (Wrigley versus Fenway!), I’d like the White Sox to face the Miami Marlins. Who could resist (Guaranteed) Rate Field versus LoanDepot Park as a symbol of corporate America’s influence on baseball?
— Michael L. Millenson, Highland Park
Perfect name for 50 tons
My suggestion for naming the 50-ton boulder unearthed at O’Hare International Airport is “Pension Debt.” Perfect for Chicago and Illinois.
— Richard J. Weiland, Evanston
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