Bulls To Build New Practice Facility Near United Center

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 16, 2012 4:20PM

Rendering: Bulls New Practice Facility (Courtesy of 360 Architects)

The Emanuel administration and the Chicago Bulls announced plans today for a new 55,000 square-foot facility next to the United Center today, a move that’s been expected since June, when the Bulls announced initial plans they were relocating their facility back inside Chicago’s city limits so that players and front office personnel can be in a centralized location.

The new facility will be located in Parking Lot J, located across South Wood Street between Madison and Monroe. The facility will be designed by 360 Architecture, who built MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and redeveloped Saluki Way at Southern Illinois University in downstate Carbondale. In a win for TIF reform, the Bulls are expected to completely fund the project, which is expected to be finished before the 2014-15 season.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he was pleased with the Bulls’ decision and that it continu(ed) the great work revitalizing the entire neighborhood around the United Center. Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf thanked Emanuel for proposing the idea.

“Investing in a modern facility for our players and coaches will help us to achieve our team’s number one goal - winning championships - while also playing an important role in the city’s ongoing redevelopment efforts in our West Side neighborhood.”

The announcement also means the Bulls won't be sharing a new facility with DePaul University, who has been looking for a space to build a stadium inside Chicago, The latest step in their quest has taken them to McCormick Place, where Emanuel is backing a proposal to build a 12,000 seat arena on a lot north of the convention center. DePaul is in talks with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which has $100 million in untapped bonds to build an arena. Emanuel supports the proposal because it can bring people to the complex when conventions aren't in town.