It was confirmed with United Center owner Rocky Wirtz that DePaul had officially ruled out the possibility of the United Center hosting it’s Men’s basketball teams in the near future. The University will instead explore other options, the most talked about being a new building being built near McCormick place near 330 E. Cermak Rd.
The Tribune report has only reported what they’ve been told by United Center Officials; DePaul officials are yet to comment on the story.
If this is true, however, why completely rule out the United Center?
The McCormick Place deal is not even close to a reality yet. In fact, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority does not even own the land on which the stadium would potentially be built; it goes up for auction next month.
How serious the University is in talks with McCormick Place is uncertain. But is a South Loop arena what DePaul is actually looking for?
As reported by the DePaulia in January, there are two main elements the Athletic Administration is looking for regarding selection of a new Men’s Basketball home:
“We’re also looking for a building that will have DePaul’s name on it,” said Ponsetto, “and be approximate for students to be able to get to.”
The article goes on to say that DePaul wants a building of it’s name on it so it could be used for multiple purposes. The envisioned building would host not only DePaul’s men’s team, but also its women and host concerts, ceremonies and other events.
It would be logical to think that a building like this would have to be located near the Lincoln Park campus.
The University’s dormitories house 2,300 students in its residence halls, and the surrounding Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods are home to thousands more undergrads. The high concentration of students on the near north side makes it the central location of DePaul’s fan base. But for that fan base, traveling to suburban Rosemont to cheer on the Blue Demons is a long, inconvenient trip. The quickest option for fans is to take buses, free of charge, which leave from DePaul’s McGrath Arena in Lincoln Park to the AllState.
But even the buses are a half-hour ride along the Kennedy. And they only run from 1 hour and 15 mins before tip-off until 45 mins before tip-off.
As Ponsetto said, she wants an arena that is “approximate” for students to go to. A half hour, 15-mile bus journey is not approximate.
A half-hour, 9-mile CTA Red Line journey is no better.
From DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus to the Proposed McCormick Place Site
Even the drive from Lincoln Park to the South Loop would take fans 20 minutes, without traffic.
Essentially, a McCormick Place arena, though it would have DePaul’s name on it, would pose the same proximity and transportation issues as the AllState Arena.
Taking the problem and moving it south is not the answer.
To wait, however, might be.
Last September, University President Rev. Dennis Holtschneider revealed Vision: 2018, his goals for DePaul over the next six years.
In September, DePaul embarked on Vision: 2018, a strategic development plan by University President Rev. Dennis Holtschneider and fellow administrators. The plan outlines the Two Strategic Priorities and Three Foundational Pillars which will guide the University’s development over the next six years:
- Enhance Academic Quality and Support Educational Innovation
- Deepen the University’s Distinctive Connection to the Global City of Chicago
- Strengthen Our Catholic and Vincentian Identity
- Foster Diversity and Inclusion
- Ensure a Business Model that Builds the University’s Continued Strength and Educational Excellence
Launched at the start of t he 2012-13 academic year, Vision: 2018 has already began making major improvements to DePaul. A new Theatre Building will open in September on the Lincoln Park Campus and McGaw Hall has been set to be demolished to make way for a new home to DePaul’s School of Music.
Absent from Vision: 2018’s construction goals is the building of a new basketball arena.
It’s not like DePaul has completely ignored athletics. They have upgraded all of their athletic facilities in the recent past. Wish Field, which hosts DePaul Soccer, and Cacciatore Stadium, which is home to DePaul Softball have both received multi-million dollar improvements in the past 15 years. The Sullivan Athletic was built in 2000 to be used as a training facility for Blue Demon Athletics, and serve as a home court for its women’s basketball and volleyball teams.
When Vision: 2018 finally runs its course (presumably by the beginning of 2019), the University may finally be in a good position to address its needs for a new basketball home. So potentially considering a move to the United Center for a short period time may be in DePaul’s interest until they’re finally ready to keen in on building their own arena close campus.
DePaul should settle for nothing less than what it wants, and what it needs.
After all, who knows what the Chicago landscape will look like in 2020?
Land could become available, and a strategy devised for the construction of a multi-purpose arena near campus.
After comments by Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens, it isn’t completely ridiculous to rule out any options. Stephens recently offered the Cubs a plot of land near O’Hare airport, at no cost.
Could you imagine. DePaul basketball and Cubs baseball trading places?
Hey, anything can happen.
Jake Berent 