First Look at DePaul's new Arena

[ivet]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... 9101.story

"To ease neighbors' fears of an unsightly, concrete hulk, the design is low to the ground and bathed in glass. The $173 million, 10,000-seat arena is projected to open in 2016, Tribune reporter Kathy Bergen writes."

[Hoya]

What kind of student support will the Demons get there?

[marquette]

That's a really cool design concept. This is closer to the DePaul campus than where they were playing, right?

[Jet915]

Arena looks very cool.

[ElDonBDon]

It is certainly closer to campus than the current arena but is nevertheless still a hike from the main campus, I think about 5-10 miles or so. The criticism that the arena was too far from campus was met with the rebuttal of "it's not that bad, it's on one of the L-train stops." Also, I know DePaul's law school and I believe b-school as well are both in the Loop (close to the new arena), so that's a lot closer. But law and grad students aren't nearly as rowdy as undergrads and, of course, likely don't live in the Loop where the respective schools are.

[Demon22]

It's a better location. Not ideal, but much better.

[Bulldog_Muskie]

It's a better location. Not ideal, but much better.

Yeah can't get much worse than rosemont. New place looks good though!

[billyjack]

Looks great... from the street view, I think they're tipping their hat toward the Frank Lloyd Wright "Prairie Style"-- has nice very horizontal lines like the Midwest Plains... old school classic Chicago... though the "whale" rises a little, the roof line on the whole is flatter and horizontal... A+...

[Dew]

Looks awesome but why only 10,000 seats?

[marquette]

Looks awesome but why only 10,000 seats?

DePaul will have to perform at an elevated level for several years to get to that number. I believe that only half, possibly less, of the teams in the conference draw 10,000 or more. Off the top of my head I think it's Creighton (around 17,000), Marquette (15,000ish), Georgetown (around 11,000), and Xavier (10,000ish). I could be wrong about that, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am. However, 10,000 is a pretty reasonable number for an arena that's primary tenants will be the teams from a university.