Various influential people have been in discussions with officials at DePaul about where their basketball team is going to play after their All-State arena lease expires in 2015. Chicago Business has a juicy article and video providing the latest:
It's definitely a good place to be in from DePaul's perspective. Most interestingly is how it appears to be pitting the mayor and governor against two of Chicago sports most powerful people (Jerry Reinsdorf - owner of the Bulls/Sox and Rocky Wirtz - owner of the Blackhawks). Should be interesting to see how this plays out.
According to the article DePaul is apparently leaning towards the option to have it's own stadium in our neighborhood::
The owners of the United Center have offered DePaul University 10 years free rent and a court-full of other perks if they'll move Blue Demons basketball games to the United Center, according to sources close to the matter.
But DePaul reportedly still is leaning toward an alternate location, a new arena that would be built for it near McCormick Place, even though the school would have to come up with a reported $75 million toward construction costs.
That's the latest in the fast-moving story about the all-out competition to lure the Blue Demons from where they now play in Rosemont — a competition in which Gov. Pat Quinn has joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel in playing a key behind-the-scenes role.So what will the impact be on the Sloop. From what we can tell it would probably be positive. As we continue to say, the more people in the neighborhood, the more businesses will spring up and the more amenities the neighborhood will have.
From a political standpoint, it's clear that the Mayor and Governor see this as a way to bolster Motor Row and the broader McCormick Place business.
So what can you as a Slooper do? Make your voice heard. Luckily the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance has a survey that they want residents to fill out. We've taken the survey and recommend that you do to.
De Paul has a basketball team? Pass...
ReplyDeleteAn arena in the South Loop is not a bad idea but the speculated site is!! Has there been in studies done for this site? What about parking, traffic, size of parcel and most of all the neighborhood right next door. Sure, nobody cares that lives at 13th and Michigan, but I do live in the Prarire District and I believe there are much better things that can go on that site than an arena They should be looking at areas around State St and Cermak or Clark and the river If they are considering South Loop. I'm for attracting new business in the South Loop but at least be smart about how to do it.
ReplyDeleteif an arena was built and brought casual sports fans to the south loop then that would probably mean ( GASP ) ---MORE SPORTS BARS!
ReplyDeleteOh the humanity! All I ever wanted was 37 coffee shops and cozy breakfast places to feed my face and blog with the free WiFi!
This would be great as a depaul alumni to have them play in the city for once. Allstate arena is idiotic, maybe they'll climb out from the depths of the big east with this change.
ReplyDeleteGreat news! Anything is better than empty, abandoned buildings with no security. I agree there would be more parking hassles but welcome the additional foot traffic it will bring to existing businesses. We live in downtown Chicago, easy street parking isn't something that anyone should expect when moving into a city neighborhood. The only way our property values will go up is if we have more things drawing people to the area.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:31am is right. I live in the Prairie District and prop values would likely go down for me. The other proposed sites are much better. S State, old Reese hospital...
ReplyDeleteSeriously who cares about DePaul basketball....the cubs of ncaa bball
ReplyDeleteHow is the proposed location at Indiana and Cermak even an option? is all that land for sale?
ReplyDeleteWould be great to have DePaul in the hood and a destination for others around the city to come through out neighborhood. Also, those conernced with traffic there is probably 15 home games a year with probably half of those to happen on the weekend - so would not consider to be a terrible inconvenience and probably about 1/4th the crowd of a Bears game on a well attended game.
ReplyDeleteThe former Ickes Homes location is perfect for this arena. Everyone knows that this tarnished land won't see residential construction for another generation.
ReplyDeleteConstruct a huge arena on Cermack & Prairie and you are building a wall between the south loop and Motor Row.
The stadium is going to be used for concerts and large corporate events, but the best location is on State / 24th street area. The green line stop will drop folks off right there with the 23rd exit and they can go 1/2 block east to Motor Row before or after the game/show. Also, it is closer to the current Red Line stop at Clark.
ReplyDeleteThe Ickes home location is too far off the most desirable path. People will take the new Green Line stop and travel down the retail corridor of Cermak, on their way to the Arena. The city wants to draw people to this area. Ickes location will draw people in the opposite direction.
ReplyDeleteI do feel bad about the prairie district as their property values may decrease. But, there is way too much push for this location. Its all but a done deal.
"ITS ALL BUT A DONE DEAL" ---
ReplyDeleteum could you actually provide a source for this dribble?
Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"ITS ALL BUT A DONE DEAL" ---
um could you actually provide a source for this dribble?
Ummmm, this is Chicago. Follow the money.
Dribble? Well it doesn't take a whole lot of digging to put the pieces together. Unnamed sources within McPier provide additional support for my comment.
ReplyDeletePerhaps your unfamiliar with Chicago and politics... McPier has just under $100 million for Bonding Authority, they are looking to generate additional income because the convention business has decreased in recent years and sporting/concert venues are on their short list for a 10 year goal. McPier wont put money forward for a Arena 6 blocks west in the middle of a field next to a school. I probably don't need to go into McPiers relationship with the Mayor's office.
In addition, the city is investing major dollars for a Green Line stop/ infastructure improvements on Cermak. Tens of millions for restaurant/entertainment venues on Motor Row in the form of TIF funds. What will draw people to this area to support the millions in investments? TIF funds are made available because of the "potential" to generate revenue/tax for "friends" (McPier) and the city Not because the city really likes the area.
The only thing that will prevent this from happening is Wirtz and Reinsdorf threatening to move the teams out of the United Center. That isn't happening.
Hence, done deal.
SLOOPERS..... community survey
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pdnachicago.com/page10.php
ANON @ 5:05
ReplyDeleteNo offense but I dont think your opinion matters too much. If it was a "done deal" then it would be front page material, not spoken of on a blog....
Anon 5:05 nailed it.
ReplyDeleteThe only hold up in announcing this formally is DePaul getting its $75M together and the details of the revenue sharing between DePaul and McPier. If this deal wasn't progressing toward completion, DePauk would've already taken up the United Center's offer of free rent.
Why do people think housing prices would go down for prairie district? There might be better options to go there but I would think some development would boost the attractiveness of the area. As this would help add foot traffic for restaurants and bars.
ReplyDelete8:44 - it is front page news.. look it up.. Sloopin just brought to your non-newspaper reading ace.
ReplyDeletewell there you have it folks, DePaul stadium construction all but a "done deal" according to lonely guy in a coffee shop blogging. LOL
ReplyDeleteI have some swamp land in Florida I wanna sell you!
Anon 9:30, thanks. Your right, Depaul was offered free rent back in September to take the United Center. They didn't bite. They want the McCormick location just as much as Quinn, Emanuel, McPier and those that do business with McPier.
ReplyDeleteIts relatively clear the nay sayers have no concept of how Politics and business work.
Thanks Big Mac, Walt Disney World was built on cheap Swamp Land. Your comment is antiquated and juvenile. Brooklyn Bridge next?
I think the issue with Prairie District is the residential feel would be lost. I dont think property values would necessarily go down but the feel of the neighborhood would change for better or worse. Those that live in that area purchased for the specific reason of having a neighborhood(some-what exclusive)close to the city. The neighborhood has a lot of influential people. But I dont think they can stop the McPier train from pulling in.
ReplyDeleteAll bow down to Anon@ 11:17! real estate Mogul and Chicago Politics historian!
ReplyDeleteGee im so happy you could straighten us all out!
anon @ 11:57
ReplyDeletei am merely explaining how things work here in chicago. If you have an issue with my knowledge then maybe you should go back to the burbs where you and the rest of these nitwits belong. Sorry for adding a little substance to your otherwise downtroden lifestyle.
Dont hate me because I smart, hate me because you arent as smart, idiot.
This arena concept will never work, sorry folks.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteOnce is a while some blowhard tries to impress complete strangers on a blog with bogus information to make him/herself seem more important.
Been there seen that, moving on....
Anon 12:05 isn't me.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me what information I provided is bogus? Because everything stated is public knowledge and has been printed several times over in various articles and news sites. I simply reiterated said statements.
Just as another poster said. Follow the money. It all points to one outcome.
Please provide support for the other side of the argument instead of ridiculing collective ideas and thoughts.
What is the incentive to move into the United Center?
Why would they put the arena at the former Ickes location?
Why did they already turn down sites right next to/on their campus?
anon @ 2:53 seriously man get over yourself. All you provided to this blog entry is a big head and a bad attitude
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't been announced yet because the property they are speaking about is in Bankruptcy. That needs to be cleared up first.
ReplyDelete@12:05 "don't hate me because I smart." We no hate you. We think you amuzeng.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who think this will "transform the area adjacent to McCormick into a dining and entertainment Mecca," please go walk around the United Center and tell me if you like what you see. And remember, two PRO sports teams call the UC home, and it hosts every single major indoor concert event in Chicago. The proposed arena in the Sloop for a bottom tier DePaul hoops team, with the same fan base as some large high school teams, is nowhere near as attractive to restaurant owners who continue to ignore this area in spite of the throngs of conventioneers.
ReplyDeleteThe stadium is not the main driver, but a bonus & not even a piece to the whole puzzle. The United Center is building an entertainment area around it now and Madison and Randolph street are 2 blocks east for gods sake. I hear you regarding the immediate area, but that is easily once of the worst areas in Chicago (North, South and West of United Center).
ReplyDeleteTake a look at McCormick - you have The lake to the east, Prairie District, Motor Row and the rest of the South Loop surrounding it. Alot needs to happen along Cermak and South Michigan, but the MAIN goal in south part of the south loop is to build hotels and office buildings. Restaurants, bars, retail and even more residential, will come in.
Folks have been claiming that the area surrounding McCormick was going to morph into a hot spot for dining, shopping, and hotels for decades. This arena deal is nothing but a ploy by the city to lure concert money from the UC's private owners, which they will accomplish via tax breaks to performers that choose this spot over the UC. Further, so long as Bronzeville boarders the southern edge of McCormick Place, the area will never boom with dining and hotels.
ReplyDeleteBronzeville is a very large area and any questionable activity does not even start until you hit 35th street. Same thing with Bridgeport that has pockets of crime, but overall a very safe area. Also, take a look at any other developed neighborhoods.. West Loop has Restaurant Row and is in an area that is nice, but surrounded by junky neighborhoods to the north, west and south. Bucktown/Wicker Park has to deal with Humbolt Park, etc.. We are talking about a very large safe cushion when speaking of McCormick (Chinatown, South Loop, Prairie District, Lake, Bridgeport/Bronzeville).
ReplyDeleteThere is a perfect border already. South of I55 forget about it. But everything north of it should blossom.
ReplyDeleteRandolph Street's "restaurant row" is not adjacent to the United Center (there is NO WAY you are walking to a Bulls game after grabbing a meal at Girl & The Goat or de cero, etc.). Also, that area boomed because of Oprah, not the UC.
ReplyDeleteSorry but the Randolph area did boom around the time Michael Jordan was winning championships. All those rich guys with season tickets would grab dinner and drinks with friends/clients before going to the game.
ReplyDeleteDon't expect rich guys with season tickets to flood the sloop in droves to watch DePaul hoops; especially now that their conference (Big East) is losing all its big name teams.
ReplyDeleteSee article in Trib online in which PDNA is voicing strong objection to this arena proposal and claiming that poll of residents shows that 70 are also against this plan.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-south-loop-residents-oppose-depaul-basketball-arena-near-mccormick-place-20121204,0,3482374.story
I took the survey and so did 75 other people I talked to. We all voted in favor of the arena. Hmmmmm
Well, you didn't talk to me or people in my building who would be impacted by it.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how anyone living in this area could support something like this. It's illogical and adds nothing to our neighborhood. Further, isn't DePaul's entire undergraduate campus and the overwhelming majority of its undergrad population located about 50 blocks north of this location in Lincoln Park?
ReplyDeleteI agree, the location does not make sense, but the State Street corridor is ideal. Also, this is not just about Depaul basketball. It is going to be used for concerts and huge convention meetings to complement McCormick.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that probably am not thinking of all the repercussions but I am having a bit of difficulty understanding why many are so vehemently against this proposal. Yes, there will be increased traffic in this area possibly 10% of the evenings a year. I would think getting/attracting visitors from other parts of the city would be a perceived positive for restaurants and bars. Does it materially alter the prairie district north of 21st/cullerton? Do people love the building co that is currently located there? I am just having a difficult time seeing the harm in replacing abandoned buildings and undeveloped land on cermak that will be utilized and visited by many across the city.
ReplyDeleteI live at 18th and Michigan, and I have no problem with an arena coming to the neighborhood, but I hate to lose the two historic buildings for it, especially when there are other empty lots.
ReplyDeleteThat's because 18th and Michigan really won't be affected by this arena at all. Moreover, it's really not about "affecting" the neighborhood, and more about the fact that there are far better uses for that land than a second-rate, smallish arena for a second-rate college hoops team which will only have 10 (at most) home games a year against teams like south florida and seton hall.
ReplyDelete