In a move that’s sending shockwaves through Chicago’s sports scene, longtime owner Jerry Reinsdorf has finally laid out a succession plan for the White Sox, but fans are now demanding to know: Is he preparing to offload the Chicago Bulls next?
Reinsdorf, now 89, has been at the helm of two of Chicago’s most iconic franchises — the Bulls and the White Sox — for decades. Under his reign, the Bulls soared to six NBA titles in the ’90s thanks to Michael Jordan, while the White Sox finally ended their championship drought in 2005. But in the years since, mediocrity has plagued both teams, and the city’s patience is wearing thin.
As reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Reinsdorf isn’t letting go of the White Sox just yet — but for the first time, there’s a concrete roadmap for his departure. He’s agreed to a succession timeline beginning in 2029, or potentially as late as 2034, when he turns 98 years old. “White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, 89, erased all of the speculation that the White Sox would be up for sale any time soon, but does have a succession plan in place beginning in 2029, or perhaps even 2034 when he will turn 98 years old,” Nightengale wrote.
Behind the scenes, pressure from minority owner Justin Ishbia may have finally pushed Reinsdorf to act. “Reinsdorf, who has been hounded by minority owner Justin Ishbia for years to sell controlling interest of the club, finally agreed to potentially sell it to him beginning in 2029, but not a single day earlier,” Nightengale added. The arrangement also gives Ishbia the right to buy the team outright in 2034 — with or without Reinsdorf’s blessing — in exchange for investments this year and again in 2026.
The succession plan was quietly arranged months ago but only revealed during the final day of MLB owners’ meetings, as confirmed by Jon Greenberg of The Athletic.
Now, this massive development has ignited a firestorm among Bulls fans, who’ve spent years begging for a change at the top. The Bulls, while still a marquee NBA franchise, have been caught in a swirl of mediocrity and front office missteps since their glory days. With NBA team valuations skyrocketing — the Bulls are now worth a reported $5.8 billion, per CNBC — fans and analysts alike are wondering if Reinsdorf’s grip on the Bulls is beginning to loosen as well.
Unfortunately, there’s no clear exit plan for the Bulls… at least, not yet.
According to Nightengale, Reinsdorf has no intention of selling the NBA team anytime soon. Instead, he plans to keep it in the family. “The NBA franchise will remain in the family where his son, Michael, is president and COO,” Nightengale noted. That statement came as a gut-punch to many Bulls supporters hoping for a similar succession blueprint as the White Sox.
Fans were quick to respond online, with one comment going viral: “We don’t want Reinsdorf’s son. We want a fresh start — the Bulls deserve better!”
Still, industry insiders speculate that the escalating value of NBA franchises may eventually tempt the Reinsdorf family to sell. And with public sentiment turning against them, pressure from both fans and potential buyers may make a future sale inevitable.
The buzz is building. Sports business experts are already whispering about what a post-Reinsdorf Bulls era could look like — and who might line up to buy one of the most globally recognized franchises in all of basketball.
Could a bold billionaire step in and restore the Bulls’ former glory? Could Chicago be on the brink of a sports renaissance?
For now, Reinsdorf remains in control. But the floodgates have been cracked open — and Bulls Nation is watching closely.
