The United Center has offered DePaul free rent for 10 years. Along with that they will put down DePaul logo at mid court as well as any other logos it wants. Also allowed to hang all it's banners.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/2...mons-games
DePaul needs to take this deal.
When it comes to Chicago real estate, DePaul basketball is like Rutgers in conference realignment. After years of waiting for good news, it suddenly falls into the school's lap out of nowhere.
(11-19-2012 01:55 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote: [ -> ]When it comes to Chicago real estate, DePaul basketball is like Rutgers in conference realignment. After years of waiting for good news, it suddenly falls into the school's lap out of nowhere.
Why dish out 75 million when they can make so much more playing in the united center for free!?
I know a few years ago SJU's rent at MSG was 150K a game! Even if DePaul would normally pay 100K a game with 16 games they are in effect getting 1.6 mil a year in free rent! Thats before ticket sales and merch.
Hooray! fans have been discussing this for what seems like decades now, wish all this had happened when I actually was going to school there. That dungeon they call Allstate Arena was a horrible atmosphere to play in. At least this time when fans of other schools fly in they can also stop by the Jordan statue and take pictures before the game.
(11-19-2012 02:32 PM)ivet Wrote: [ -> ]Hooray! fans have been discussing this for what seems like decades now, wish all this had happened when I actually was going to school there. That dungeon they call Allstate Arena was a horrible atmosphere to play in. At least this time when fans of other schools fly in they can also stop by the Jordan statue and take pictures before the game.
Have heard that a lot of schools don't consider playing at Allstate Arena actually playing in Chicago. I believe John Thompson III mentioned recently that they stay at one of O'Hare's airport hotel, bus to AA for the game, then bus back to the airport and get out of town.
From the article, the other proposal is the McPier project where an arena would be built near McCormack Place on the Near South Side (sorry, I'm not up on Chicago geography). Supposedly DePaul would have to come up with $75 million of the construction costs, but the school would be able to sell naming rights and has a donor who is very intrigued.
The Blackhawks & Bulls owners came up with this plan supposedly because they fear the new arena pulling some conventions and concerts away from United Center.
(11-19-2012 02:49 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ]From the article, the other proposal is the McPier project where an arena would be built near McCormack Place on the Near South Side (sorry, I'm not up on Chicago geography). Supposedly DePaul would have to come up with $75 million of the construction costs, but the school would be able to sell naming rights and has a donor who is very intrigued.
The Blackhawks & Bulls owners came up with this plan supposedly because they fear the new arena pulling some conventions and concerts away from United Center.
I would go with the United Center.
(11-19-2012 02:53 PM)NJRedMan Wrote: [ -> ] (11-19-2012 02:49 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ]From the article, the other proposal is the McPier project where an arena would be built near McCormack Place on the Near South Side (sorry, I'm not up on Chicago geography). Supposedly DePaul would have to come up with $75 million of the construction costs, but the school would be able to sell naming rights and has a donor who is very intrigued.
The Blackhawks & Bulls owners came up with this plan supposedly because they fear the new arena pulling some conventions and concerts away from United Center.
I would go with the United Center.
The school seems to be interested in the McPier project because they wouldn't be 3rd place in the building behind the Bulls and Blackhawks when it comes to scheduling. But I'd have trouble passing up those perks.
(11-19-2012 03:00 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ] (11-19-2012 02:53 PM)NJRedMan Wrote: [ -> ] (11-19-2012 02:49 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ]From the article, the other proposal is the McPier project where an arena would be built near McCormack Place on the Near South Side (sorry, I'm not up on Chicago geography). Supposedly DePaul would have to come up with $75 million of the construction costs, but the school would be able to sell naming rights and has a donor who is very intrigued.
The Blackhawks & Bulls owners came up with this plan supposedly because they fear the new arena pulling some conventions and concerts away from United Center.
I would go with the United Center.
The school seems to be interested in the McPier project because they wouldn't be 3rd place in the building behind the Bulls and Blackhawks when it comes to scheduling. But I'd have trouble passing up those perks.
Yeah, being third also helps because you are associating yourself with the Blackhawks and Bulls and being seen on their level when it comes to representing the city. DePaul banners next to Bulls banners.
(11-19-2012 02:49 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ]From the article, the other proposal is the McPier project where an arena would be built near McCormack Place on the Near South Side (sorry, I'm not up on Chicago geography). Supposedly DePaul would have to come up with $75 million of the construction costs, but the school would be able to sell naming rights and has a donor who is very intrigued.
The Blackhawks & Bulls owners came up with this plan supposedly because they fear the new arena pulling some conventions and concerts away from United Center.
Yeah this is strange, DePaul is in a strange situation where we have two powerful and rich (individuals) vying for their service.
Frank would be the guy to ask regarding the politics between the two parties.
MCcormack Place is just south of the "loop," that's where they have the Chicago Autoshow and it's very close to Soldier Field. United Center is directly West of the loop but accessible by CTA bus and metro. DePaul's main campus is in the North Side (Lincoln Park) and in the Loop (Business and Finance majors). Students have a free Metro card that gives them unlimited rides on CTA. Allstate arena is by O'hare and not accessible by CTA. JTIII is correct, actually that's what all the schools end up doing when they fly into Rosemont (Allstate) Students have to be shuttelled there by bus, takes about an hour to get from Lincoln Park to Allstate depending on the weather and traffic.
(11-19-2012 03:09 PM)ivet Wrote: [ -> ] (11-19-2012 02:49 PM)mattsarz Wrote: [ -> ]From the article, the other proposal is the McPier project where an arena would be built near McCormack Place on the Near South Side (sorry, I'm not up on Chicago geography). Supposedly DePaul would have to come up with $75 million of the construction costs, but the school would be able to sell naming rights and has a donor who is very intrigued.
The Blackhawks & Bulls owners came up with this plan supposedly because they fear the new arena pulling some conventions and concerts away from United Center.
Yeah this is strange, DePaul is in a strange situation where we have two powerful and rich (individuals) vying for their service.
Frank would be the guy to ask regarding the politics between the two parties.
MCcormack Place is just south of the "loop," that's where they have the Chicago Autoshow and it's very close to Soldier Field. United Center is directly West of the loop but accessible by CTA bus and metro. DePaul's main campus is in the North Side (Lincoln Park) and in the Loop (Business and Finance majors). Students have a free Metro card that gives them unlimited rides on CTA. Allstate arena is by O'hare and not accessible by CTA. JTIII is correct, actually that's what all the schools end up doing when they fly into Rosemont (Allstate) Students have to be shuttelled there by bus, takes about an hour to get from Lincoln Park to Allstate depending on the weather and traffic.
A big thing is that the Bulls and Blackhawks are trying to retain a bunch of property tax incentives that are about to expire on land that they own around the United Center, which includes a parking lot that's directly east of the stadium where they want to build a huge new Bulls practice facility and entertainment complex. We'll see if this DePaul offer is going to be used as a bargaining chip.