Now Arena
Former names | Sears Centre (2006-20) |
---|---|
Address | 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy Hoffman Estates, IL 60192-3720 |
Location | Metro Chicago |
Owner | Village of Hoffman Estates |
Operator | Spectra |
Capacity | 10,543 Detailed capacity[1]
|
Construction | |
Broke ground | July 21, 2005 |
Opened | October 26, 2006 |
Construction cost | $60 million ($93.6 million in 2023 dollars[2]) |
Architect | RoehrSchmitt |
Project manager | GTG Consultants |
Structural engineer | Needham DBS |
Services engineer | V3 Consultants |
General contractor | Ryan Companies |
Tenants | |
Chicago Hounds (UHL) (2006-07) Chicago Storm] (MISL II/XSL) (2006–09) Chicago Shamrox (NLL) (2007–08) Chicago Slaughter (CIFL/IFL) (2007–13) Chicago Bliss (LFL) (2009–10, 2013–14, 2018–19) Chicago Outlaws (CILL) (2011–13) Chicago Express (ECHL) (2011–12) Chicago Soul FC (MISL III) (2012–13) Chicago Mustangs (MASL/M2) (2014-15, 2017-19) Windy City Bulls (G League) (2016–present) | |
Website | |
Venue Website |
The NOW Arena (originally known as the Sears Centre and Sears Centre Arena) is a multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb 25 miles (40 km) from Chicago. Located near the former site of the Poplar Creek Music Theater, it was estimated to attract over 750,000 visitors annually.[according to whom?] Since 2016, the arena has been home to the Windy City Bulls, the Chicago Bulls' affiliate in the NBA G League.[3]
History
The venue was a joint venture between Sears Holdings, Ryan Companies, and the Village of Hoffman Estates.[4] The project began in 1998 however plans were not finalized until 2005.[5] Construction began in July 2005.[6] The venue opened as Sears Centre on October 26, 2006, with performances by Duran Duran[7] and Bob Dylan.[8]
In 2011, the Village of Hoffman Estates took over ownership of the arena after Ryan Companies walked away from the arena due to the arena's lack of success.[9] However, since the village took over the arena and hired Global Spectrum to manage it,[10] the arena has shown improvement.[11]
The naming rights to the arena were not affected by Sears Holdings declaring bankruptcy in 2018,[12] with the company paying $1.5 million to secure naming rights for an additional 18 months. On June 23, 2020, the Village of Hoffman Estates approved an $11.5 million deal to rename the venue to NOW Arena,[13] with the naming rights belonging to the NOW Health Group, a family-owned natural products manufacturer based in Bloomingdale, Illinois.[14] The name change would officially take effect on September 1, 2020.[15]
Notable events
- In 2008 and from 2010 until the present, the Illinois Recreational Cheerleading Association (IRCA) hold their annual state championship at the facility.
- The fourth annual TNA Bound for Glory Professional wrestling pay-per-view event on October 12, 2008, which was TNA's first ever event in the Chicago area.[16]
- The arena was also the venue which featured TNA's first ever Impact Wrestling outside of Orlando, Florida, on March 14, 2013.
- On May 19 and 20, 2011, it played host to the Chicago audition stages in the first season of the Fox singer search program The X Factor.
- In 2009 and 2011, it played host to Strikeforce events.
- September 12–14, 2014: Played host to the Davis Cup, hosting matches between the United States and Slovakia.
- 2014 Skate America
- The 2017 and 2018 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern University's wrestling program, have been hosted at the Sears Centre.
- September 1, 2018: All In, the largest ever independent professional wrestling event, presented by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks,[17] featuring the top names in the indies and certain wrestlers from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, like Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada. This event was the springboard for the creation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) several months later. In commemoration of All In a permanent plaque was installed near the front entrance of the arena.[18]
- August 31, 2019: hosted the wrestling pay-per-view event AEW All Out, at which AEW crowned its first world champion.
- November 27, 2019: hosted the Thanksgiving Eve episode of Dynamite.
- 2013 U.S. Challenge (July 26, 2013)[19]
- 2013 U.S. Classic (July 27, 2013)[20]
- 2014 U.S. Classic (August 2, 2014)[21]
- 2015 U.S. Classic (July 25, 2015)
- 2017 U.S. Classic (July 29, 2017)
External links
- Now Arena (formerly Sears Centre) show guide to Chicago
References
- ^ "Building Specifications" (PDF). Sears Centre Arena Promoter Guide. Hoffman Estates, Illinois: 16. June 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
{{cite journal}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; December 20, 2020 suggested (help) - ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Halberstadt, Doug (January 20, 2015). "Sears Centre offers variety of sporting events". Rock River Times. Rockford, Illinois. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ^ "'Sears Centre' Selected as Name for New Arena in Hoffman Estates" (Press release). Hoffman Estates, Illinois: Sears, Roebuck and Co. February 7, 2005. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Bernstein, David (May 18, 2020). "Sears Helped Build a Giant Entertainment Arena. Now, a Suburb Pays Millions to Keep It Running". ProPublica. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Meyer, Cheryl (July 20, 2005). "Groundbreaking is set for Sears Centre arena". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ "Andy Taylor Exits Duran Duran". Pollstar. October 26, 2006. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; December 20, 2020 suggested (help) - ^ Burke, David (October 20, 2006). "Entering a new arena". Quad-City Times. Lee Enterprises. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Peterson, Eric (October 9, 2018). "Hoffman Estates renews naming rights for Sears Centre". Business Ledger. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ "Hoffman Estates adjusts to owning arena". Daily Herald. Paddock Publications. July 7, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
- ^ "Sears Centre shining for Hoffman Estates". Daily Herald. Paddock Publications. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
- ^ Isidore, Chris (October 15, 2018). "Sears, the store that changed America, declares bankruptcy". CNN Business. Time Warner. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Zumbach, Lauren (June 23, 2020). "Sears name disappearing from another Chicago-area building. Hoffman Estates arena gets a new name this fall". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "NOW Health Group to take over naming rights to Sears Centre". Daily Journal. July 1, 2020. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Peterson, Eric (September 1, 2020). "The Sears Centre Arena has a new name today: the Now Arena". Daily Herald. Paddock Publications. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "Bound For Glory 2008 In Chicago". TNAWrestling.com. 2007-09-20. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ^ "All In sellout a genuine surprise to Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks". 23 May 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
- ^ "All In Venue Commemorates Event With a Plaque".
- ^ "Kenlin, Shchennikova Win All-Around In The Hopes Division Of 2013 U.S. Challenge". Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ "Ross Wins All-Around At 2013 Secret U.S. Classic". Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- ^ "Single-Session Tickets For 2014 Secret U.S. Classic Go On Sale May 16". 14 May 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
Events and tenants | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by | Home of the Chicago Storm 2006–2009 |
Succeeded by |
- 2006 establishments in Illinois
- Arena football venues
- Basketball venues in Illinois
- Event venues established in 2006
- Gymnastics venues in Illinois
- Indoor arenas in Illinois
- Indoor ice hockey venues in Illinois
- Indoor lacrosse venues in the United States
- Indoor soccer venues in Illinois
- Legends Football League venues
- Mixed martial arts venues in Illinois
- Music venues in Illinois
- NBA G League venues
- Professional wrestling venues in Illinois
- Tennis venues in Illinois
- Windy City Bulls
- Wrestling venues in Chicago
- Wrestling venues in Illinois