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Where They Play
United Center
United Center opened its doors August 18, 1994. With a total capacity of 21,711 offering disabled seating on multiple levels of the arena United Center is unique. Chicago Bulls memorabilia of every shape and size can be purchased at Fandemonium located in the United Center. Food and beverage upon entrance are not permitted. Concessions are provided by Bismarck Food Service.
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a sports stadium in Chicago, Illinois which was built in 1914 for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales and which became the home of the Chicago Cubs in 1916. It was also the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1921-1970.
The ballpark was originally named Weeghman Park for the Whales' club owner, Charles Weeghman, who obtained a 99-year lease on the property from the city. The field became the home of the Chicago Cubs following the 1915 season when the Federal League was disbanded. Weeghman had gained part ownership of the Cubs, and moved the club to his new north side facility, abandoning legendary (and wooden) West Side Park.
William Wrigley,Jr., the chewing gum magnate, was part of that group of investors, led by Weeghman, which purchased the team. Wrigley gained full ownership in 1919 after Weeghman suffered financial setbacks and had to sell his shares. The field was then called Cubs Park from 1920 to 1925 before it was expanded and named after Wrigley in 1926. "Cubs Park" is still sometimes used as an alternate name. It is one of two parks that was named for William Wrigley; there was a Wrigley Field in Los Angeles that was home to the Los Angeles Angels, a Pacific Coast League team which Wrigley also owned.
Located in the residential neighborhood of Lakeview, Wrigley Field sits on an asymmetric block bounded by Clark and Addison Streets, Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. As every fan of the movie The Blues Brothers knows, the ballpark's mailing address is 1060 W. Addison Street.
Wrigley Field is nicknamed The Friendly Confines, a phrase popularized by "Mister Cub", Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. With a capacity of under 40,000, Wrigley is the third-smallest ballpark being used in 2005. It is the second oldest active major league ballpark (behind Fenway Park) and the only remaining Federal League park. When Wrigley Field was built, it had a seating capacity of 14,000 and cost $250,000 to build.
U.S. Cellular Field
In 2003, the Chicago White Sox and U.S. Cellular forged a unique partnership, renaming the ballpark U.S. Cellular Field. This agreement created the opportunity for dramatic, fan-focused renovations and improvements to the park. A fully renovated U.S. Cellular Field is expected to be completed by Opening Day 2005. On May 26, 2004, the White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA) announced a portion of the 2005 Phase V renovation plans, which feature a 15,000-square-foot baseball and softball skills instruction area for kids, to be located above the left field concourse. FUNdamentals, which will overlook the field and outfield seating area, will offer skills instruction for all positions, led by instructors from the Chicago White Sox Training Academy. The area will feature a youth-sized baseball diamond for coaching clinics, batting and pitching cages for instructional and recreational use, batting “swing” boxes for proper batting techniques and areas for baserunning and skills instruction, in addition to a kid-friendly concession and novelty stand. Fans in the stands will be able to observe the activities in FUNdamentals. Currently located inside Gate 3, FUNdamentals will continue to open when the gates to the ballpark open (typically 90 minutes before game time) and will remain open during the game beginning in 2005. The new area will be accessible from all levels of the ballpark.
Soldier Field
After playing 31 years along the lakefront a brief one-year hiatus from Soldier Field while the new stadium was being constructed within its historic colonnades, the Bears have returned to their stadium by the Lake. The Bears first season at Soldier Field was in 1971 after spending 50 seasons at Wrigley Field. Soldier Field was opened in 1924 as a 45,000-seat Municipal Grant Park Stadium. The first football game played on its field was November 22, 1924, as a capacity crowd watched Notre Dame edge Northwestern, 13-6.
It hosted the first boxing event which drew a gate of over $2.5 million (Dempsey-Tunney, 1927), the first ski meet held in a stadium, and the all-time largest football crowd (123,000). The largest crowd for any event in Soldier Field was 260,000 on Sept. 8, 1954, for the Catholic church?s Marian Year Tribute.
The 100,000-seat stadium was dedicated November 27, 1926, with Army battling Navy to a 21-21 tie. The all-time collegiate attendance record of 123,000 plus was established Nov. 26, 1927 as Notre Dame beat Southern Cal 7-6. In the first professional game at the then-mammoth stadium, the Bears defeated the Chicago Cardinals 10-0 on November 11, 1926.
Plans for the stadium started in 1919 as a memorial to the soldiers of WWI. Soldier Field stood on 10,000 pile foundations driving an average depth of 62.5 feet through fill that replaced the lake waters. The new stadium continues to be owned, maintained and operated by the Chicago Park District.
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