Key Takeaways
- The Ishbia Family Foundation has applied to convert a vacant Office Depot at 2722 Green Bay Road into a two-story indoor youth sports facility
- The complex would offer year-round training space for baseball, flag football and soccer with no tournaments planned
- Justin Ishbia, who leads the foundation, is a minority owner of the Chicago White Sox with a potential path to majority ownership
- Evanston’s north side currently lacks an indoor youth sports venue, with the nearest comparable facility on the city’s south end
- A Land Use Commission hearing could come as early as late spring or summer 2026
A Big-Box Vacancy Gets a Youth Sports Pitch
A former Office Depot in Evanston that has sat empty since late 2024 could become an indoor youth sports training hub. The Ishbia Family Foundation has applied for zoning approval to build a two-story facility at 2722 Green Bay Road on the city’s north side, according to the Evanston RoundTable.
The nonprofit’s plans call for year-round practice space covering baseball, flag football and soccer. Programming would be limited to organized practices, clinics, camps and private events. No tournaments or large-scale competitions are part of the proposal, a detail likely aimed at addressing potential traffic and neighborhood concerns.
Who’s Behind the Project
The foundation is led by Justin Ishbia, founder of Chicago-based private equity firm Shore Capital Partners. Ishbia holds a minority stake in the Chicago White Sox and could become the team’s majority owner later this decade. He and his brother Mat also hold ownership stakes in the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.
A foundation spokesperson told the Evanston RoundTable that the project is designed to fill a gap in the city’s recreational infrastructure, noting that Evanston’s north side currently has no comparable indoor venue. The city’s only similar facility, TOCA Soccer and Sports Center, is located on the south end.
What Comes Next for the Green Bay Road Site
City officials are in the early stages of reviewing the proposal. A Land Use Commission hearing could come as soon as late spring or early summer, though detailed plans have not yet been posted publicly. Seventh Ward Councilmember Parielle Davis, whose district includes the site, described the early-stage concept as promising but not finalized.
The property has already seen one redevelopment attempt stall. A proposed Aldi grocery store for the location never materialized, leaving another retail vacancy along the Green Bay Road corridor.
Source: The Real Deal, April 8, 2026
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