DePaul to United Center?

[CaribouJim]

I know there are new rumors about DePaul finding a new b-ball home - here is another one:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/15422173-452/depaul-blue-demons-eyeing-the-united-center.html

[MKE_GoldenEagleFan]

I think this would be huge for DePaul... If there was ever a time for them to get a boost in the arm now is it.

[MUAlphaBangura]

Think of how ridiculous the UC would look with a DePaul student section of 7, and the 432 season ticket holders spaciously placed. Does every season ticket holder get their own row? At least there would be more seats available to MU fans for our home away from home game.

[IrwinFletcher]

Think of how ridiculous the UC would look with a DePaul student section of 7, and the 432 season ticket holders spaciously placed. Does every season ticket holder get their own row? At least there would be more seats available to MU fans for our home away from home game.

How many would we draw if we had the talent DePaul does?

The fact is, with ND leaving, we need DePaul to get better. And they will. Give them a nice new arena and they will draw just fine.

[MUMac]

How many would we draw if we had the talent DePaul does?



And the discussion would be leaving the BC for the Arena or the Al, not moving to a much larger venue.

[MUWhistler]

And here is another possibility being talked about...A new arena near McCormick Place. This option could have legs. The Bulls need a new practice facility, per the article in the Sun Times, so a combination of Bulls practice facility/DePaul game facility could make sense. And this arena wouldn't have to be as big as the United Centre is now, thus eliminating some of the points above. Either option would be better than the pit they play in now.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-depaul-mcpier-discuss-new-stadium-near-mccormick-place-20120928,0,2804349.story

[MUAlphaBangura]

How many would we draw if we had the talent DePaul does?

The fact is, with ND leaving, we need DePaul to get better. And they will. Give them a nice new arena and they will draw just fine.

They didn't draw flies in the early 2000's when they did have a competitve team that went to the NCAA tourney a few times.

[IrwinFletcher]

DePaul has drawn well for some marquis games, especially when they were decent.

DePaul's administration might actually have a plan right now to finally back this program. They have better talent coming in and are recruiting Chicago hard. If they can have some success and can market playing in a beautiful Pro Arena, they could start building their brand.

And again, I think that is important for Marquette with the departure of ND.

[BLT]

DePaul is the largest Catholic university and one of the Top 10 privates. However, it has no clear school identity...two major campuses spread out miles apart connected by the El. It is a commuter school. Both campuses are landlocked so it cannot do what MU, SLU or XU and others have done. They play in Rosemont because the NW burbs is where its largest alumni base resides.

To build an arena based on student attendance is a folly....look at MU in a good sense...at most 4000 tickets sold at very discounted prices...of which maybe 2000 show considering breaks and classes. The only location that makes sense for a new arena is the North/Clybourne corridor with the Metra, CTA and expressway access and its Lincoln Park proximity.

[Gato78]

DePaul needs to get the atmosphere before they can succeed. Even though it may be catering to a few thousand students, I think it is a necessary predicate to creating the big time college atmosphere that will get alums and other hoops fans to go to the games. I think the closer to campus, the better.

[Goose85]

The Chicago Mayor is on board with getting a place for DePaul to play in Chicago.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/8449758/mayor-rahm-emanuel-wants-depaul-blue-demons-basketball-back-chicago