Get Up Close With the ABA Chicago Rockstars

By Todd McClamroch in News on Nov 10, 2006 6:30PM

Chicago's newest sports franchise tips off tonight. The Chicago Rockstars, members of the American Basketball Association, plan to provide competitive, fun, fan-friendly and affordable basketball to the Chicago area.

The team planned on playing their inaugural season at a new 7,000-seat arena at Chicago State, but construction delays forced the Rockstars to find a temporary home. This season they will be playing at Northeastern Illinois University (5500 N. St. Louis Ave.) on the Northwest side of Chicago.

The team was created last year by former NFL tackle and new member of the Chicago Rush, Marques Sullivan. Sullivan was inspired by the success other Chicago-based teams have had in providing an alternative to high-priced top-tier leagues. Both the Chicago Wolves and Chicago Rush have had success offering a more fan-friendly and affordable sporting atmosphere, and Sullivan hopes to provide the same for basketball fans.

The Chicago Rockstars' season begins tonight when they take on the Minnesota Ripknees at 7:05 p.m. After that, they begin a four-game road trip before returning to the Chicago area for their November 26 match-up with the Anderson Champions (Chicagoist thinks that name is kind of presumptuous, but we digress). The regular season runs through March 9.

Chicagoist is not a big fan of the team name, but we are hard to please. But, we are all for checking out the affordable alternatives to the top professional leagues.