DePaul Basketball, City discuss new arena near McCormick Place

[Tugg Speedman]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120928/BLOGS02/120929739/depaul-mcpier-discuss-new-stadium-near-mccormick-place

DePaul, McPier discuss new arena near McCormick Place
September 28, 2012

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.

Sources confirm that a Sun-Times story that the school also has been talking with Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf about playing in the United Center and/or sharing a practice facility.

The school is believed to be looking for a place that would hold about 12,000 fans, compared to the United Center's 22,000-person capacity.

But more serious, I'm told, are the discussions with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which owns and operates McCormick Place

Though the agency, known as McPier, is not now in the sporting business, it has more than $100 million in untapped bonding authority, funds that could be used to construct an arena. And adequate land is available within walking distance of McCormick Place and its large parking lots.

Sources say Mr. Emanuel is behind the idea because much of the Near South Side near the convention center goes dark when a big convention is not running, which is most of the time. For instance, the area lacks many good restaurants, bars and shops.

As recently as earlier today, Mr. Emanuel emphasized a wide variety of infrastructure improvements in the Near South area, including one new Chicago Transit Authority station and significant renovations in another.

DePaul's board has formally stated its intention to bring the Blue Demons back to town. Sports sources say it might be easier for the team to recruit top talent if they play in Chicago rather than in the relatively isolated Allstate Arena.

DePaul has been looking at sites in the Clybourn Corridor and other locals near the North Branch of the Chicago River, on the west end of Lincoln Park. But all face significant potential access and congestion problems. And putting a large stadium near a residential neighborhood could create political difficulties.

Both DePaul and Mr. Emanuel's office were informed earlier this afternoon that I was working on a story about the McPier talks. Neither had immediate comment.