Wednesday, October 3, 2012

DePaul Basketball Near McCormick Place?

Man-o-man...the ideas continue to fly around this week as various people talk about ideas to bolster Motor Row and the area around McCormick Place (see our post from Monday).

Image from Chicago Business
Recently Greg Hinz from Chicago Business reported that:
DePaul University is talking about moving its basketball games to a new facility that would be built for it near McCormick Place, in a deal being pushed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. 
That's what I hear from multiple inside sources, as discussions continue about DePaul's desire to return Blue Demons games to the city from where they're now played, in Rosemont — past O'Hare Airport, and many miles from the school's main Lincoln Park Campus.
Other places have been discussed in Lincoln Park as well as the United Center according to the article.

Not sure how I feel about this one.  While yes, it would mean more people in the area, is it really the type of thing that will help build up Motor Row?  I could see it being a fit if it was closer to the DePaul campus, but it clearly isn't (maybe more so then Rosemont I guess).

On the other hand, for the area to take off it seems like more stuff has to open.  Whether that's restaurants, music venues, shops, or sports arenas something has to change.  Maybe this is it.

What are your thoughts on this one?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Easy access off new L station makes it a quick commute. Besides, it wouldn't be just DePaul basketball there would be other events/concerts etc.

Also, DePaul's fastly expanding downtown campus is very close.

Anonymous said...

Depaul has a basketball team? I thought they stopped playing in '84

Anonymous said...

Fingers crossed they would end up by McCormick place. Even the United Center area is one of the worst areas of chicago the area gets a nice economic boom on game days. Might be the only thing to get people to head down to Motor Row. I hope the future brewery does well but doubt it will make motor row in a destination place. Arenas make areas into destination place. I doubt anybody is visiting the united center for the scenery

Anonymous said...

This would be a huge hit for all of the bars/resturants in the area. not to mention..cabs, the new L station...etc. IF YardHouse and a few other things opened near iCON there would be a lot to walk/cab to from that stop

Anonymous said...

ALSO, lets not forget students that are being exposed to the SLOOP for the first time might find it a nice place to live after they graduate...rather then the LP neighborhood

Anonymous said...

If DePaul picks McCormick Place, will they finally get rid of the Arie Crown Theater. That theater is the most ackward places to get to. It doesn't matter if you are driving, using public transportation, or walking.

Anonymous said...

DEPAUL SUCKS