Wintrust Arena

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Wintrust Arena
Logo of the Wintrust Arena
The Wintrust Arena in 2018
The Wintrust Arena in May 2018
Earlier names

DePaul Arena (planning and construction phase)
McCormick Place Events Center (planning and construction phase)

Data
place 200 East Cermak Road Chicago , Illinois 60616
United StatesUnited States
Coordinates 41 ° 51 '13.4 "  N , 87 ° 37' 16.8"  W Coordinates: 41 ° 51 '13.4 "  N , 87 ° 37' 16.8"  W.
owner Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
operator Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
start of building November 16, 2015
opening October 14, 2017
surface Concrete
parquet
costs 150 million US dollars
architect Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
capacity 10,387 seats
Societies)
Events

The Wintrust Arena (full name: Wintrust Arena at McCormick Square ) is a multi-purpose hall in the US metropolis of Chicago in the state of Illinois . The hall is part of McCormick Place , opened in 1960 , the largest convention center in North America . It is owned by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) next to Navy Pier . It has been the athletic home of the DePaul Blue Demons ( NCAA - college basketball , men and women, Big East Conference ) since 2017 . The women's basketball team of the Chicago Sky ( Women's National Basketball Association ) has also been based in the arena since 2018 .

history

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the construction of a new multi-purpose hall on May 16, 2013 . A large event hall was to be added to the McCormick Place complex in the Near South Side district. The project should initially be completed for the 2016/17 season. The $ 173 million construction cost was to be financed  in a public-private partnership between DePaul University ($ 70 million), MPEA ($ 70 million) and the city through tax revenue ($ 33 ​​million). Dollars). In addition to convention and entertainment events, the main tenants were the women's and men's basketball teams at DePaul University. For decades (from 1980 to 2017) they played their games in the Allstate Arena in Rosemont , outside of Chicago. The university was previously looking for a new venue. In November 2012, a ten-year rent-free contract with the United Center was rejected. Instead, the contract with the Allstate Arena was extended annually until a new arena is available. César Pelli's architectural office , Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects , was entrusted with the design by a nine-member committee made up of representatives from the MPEA, the City of Chicago and DePaul University. The concept envisaged a curved roof, four transparent sides and an offer of around 10,000 seats. The university is the paying tenant of the new venue, but may keep the income from a sponsorship agreement for the name.

On November 16, 2015, the first, symbolic, groundbreaking ceremony for the new sports facility on the corner of Cermak Road and Indiana Avenue was set. In addition to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the then President of the University, Reverend Dennis H. Holtschneider, representatives of the MPEA, u. a. Chairman Jack Greenberg and CEO Lori Healey, in attendance. The plan was for completion and opening for the 2017/18 season.

On November 16, 2016, the university announced the conclusion of a sponsorship agreement on the future name of the multi-purpose arena. A 15-year agreement was negotiated with the financial holding company Wintrust Financial . No information was given about the financial framework of the contract. The year before, the university signed a 50-year lease for the hall. In addition to the event hall on the opposite side of the street which was created Marriott Marquis Chicago , a 40-  storey high hotel with 1,206 rooms. The event arena is located two to three miles north of the DePaul University campus . Both locations are linked by the Chicago Elevated Green Line . In the wider area is Lake Michigan and Soldier Field , the home of the Chicago Bears from the National Football League (NFL).

Around two years after construction began, the Wintrust Arena was inaugurated on October 14, 2017 as part of an open house . Before that there was a small concert by the rock band REO Speedwagon in front of employees of the DIY chain True Value on September 25th . At the first public event, Bob Dylan and blues and soul singer Mavis Staples performed in concert on October 27th of that year . The two teams from DePaul University each play 23 home games per season in their new home. In addition, there are 17 games per year on Chicago Sky. At the time of the opening, 50 events were booked for the arena.

After the Chicago Sky was based in the Allstate Arena from 2010 to 2017, the franchise announced the move to the Wintrust Arena in early February 2018.

The Wintrust Arena with 300,000  sq ft (around 27,871  m² ) of space offers 10,387 seats. There are also 22 luxury suites and 479 club seats. Ultimately, DePaul University and the MPEA funded the $ 150 million tax-free public-private partnership. Construction stayed within budget and on schedule with a construction time of 23 months.

gallery

  • The construction site in August 2016

Web links

Commons : Wintrust Arena  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Facilities - Men's Basketball - Wintrust Arena. In: depaulbluedemons.com. DePaul University , accessed September 16, 2018 .
  2. ↑ Eamonn Brennan: Chicago reveals DePaul arena plans. In: espn.com. ESPN , May 17, 2013, accessed September 16, 2018 .
  3. ↑ DePaul Basketball Enjoys game-changing, groundbreaking Day. In: depaulbluedemons.com. DePaul University , November 16, 2015, accessed September 16, 2018 .
  4. ^ Danny Ecker: DePaul strikes arena naming rights deal with Wintrust. In: chicagobusiness.com. Crain's Chicago Business, November 16, 2016, accessed September 16, 2018 .
  5. ↑ Paris protection: Wintrust Arena at McCormick Place Opens. In: chicagotonight.wttw.com. WTTW, September 25, 2017, accessed on September 16, 2018 .
  6. ↑ James Neveau: Chicago Sky Officially Announce Move to Wintrust Arena. In: nbcchicago.com. NBC , February 3, 2018, accessed September 16, 2018 .
  7. ^ Clark Helps MPEA Transform McCormick Square with New Wintrust Arena. In: clarkconstruction.com. October 13, 2017, accessed on September 17, 2018 .