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Where They Play U.S. Cellular FieldThe new Comiskey Park (U.S. Cellular Field) opened on April 18, 1991, three years after the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to build the park directly across the street from old Comiskey Park. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on May 7, 1989, with Mayor Richard M. Daley and Governor James Thompson in attendance.The new park, completed at a cost of $167 million, also opened with the Comiskey Park name, but became U.S. Cellular Field in January, 2003 after U.S. Cellular bought the naming rights at $68 million over 20 years. It hosted the MLB All-Star Game that same year. Many sportscasters and fans continue to use the name Comiskey Park.The new park featured an exploding scoreboard, an old-time facade complete with arches and over 40,000 unobstructed-view seats. The ballpark attracted a club-record 2,934,154 fans in its first year. Prior to its demolition, the old Comiskey Park was the oldest in-use ballpark in Major League Baseball, a title now held by Fenway Park in Boston. The stadium is situated just to the west of the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago's Armour Square neighborhood. It was built directly across 35th Street from old Comiskey Park, which was demolished to make room for a parking lot that serves the venue. Old Comiskey's home plate is a marble plaque on the sidewalk next to U.S. Cellular Field and the foul lines are painted in the parking lot. Also, the spectator ramp across 35th Street is designed in such a way (partly curved, partly straight but angling east-northeast) that it echoes the contour of the old first-base grandstand. Wrigley FieldWrigley Field, built in 1914, is the second-oldest ballpark in the majors. The Friendly Confines has been the site of such historic moments as:* Babe Ruth's "called shot," when Ruth allegedly pointed to a bleacher location during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series ... Ruth then hit Charlie Root's next pitch for a homer. * Gabby Hartnett's famous "Homer in the Gloamin' " September 28, 1938, vs. Pittsburgh's Mace Brown. * The great May 2, 1917, pitching duel between Jim "Hippo" Vaughn and the Reds' Fred Toney ... both Vaughn and Toney threw no-hitters for 9.0 innings before Cincinnati's Jim Thorpe (of Olympic fame) drove in the only run in the 10th inning ... Toney finished with a no-hitter. * Ernie Banks' 500th career home run May 12, 1970, vs. Atlanta's Pat Jarvis. * Pete Rose's 4,191st career hit, which tied him with Ty Cobb for themost hits in baseball history ... Rose singled off Reggie PattersonSeptember 8, 1985. * Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout affair in 1998. * Sammy Sosa's 60th home runs in 1998, 1999 and 2001. * the 1947, 1962 and 1990 All-Star Games. United CenterIn 1988, William Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Jerry Reinsdorf, majority owner and Team Chairman of the Chicago Bulls, formed a new partnership to create an arena that would take sports and entertainment into the 21st century.The United Center, home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, is the largest arena in the United States. Construction was begun in April of 1992, with the ribbon cutting ceremony being held on August 18, 1994. Since opening, the United Center has hosted over 200 events each year. Some of the events the United Center has been proud to host include the 1996 Democratic National Convention, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, U2, The Who, The 3 Tenors, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Great Eight Classic, Illinois College Basketball, and Champions on Ice. The United Center has hosted over twenty million guests since its opening in 1994. Soldier FieldUnder the direction of Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Chicago Park District officials, the renovation of Soldier Field was completed in 2003. Since its re-opening, Soldier Field and the surrounding parkland have hosted thousands of events. Corporate activities from meetings, tradeshows and receptions to black-tie events have been held in the stadium's unique hospitality area.Festivals, charitable events, weddings and birthday parties have also taken place at the stadium. International soccer events contiune to call Soldier Field home highlighted by the U.S. Men's and Women's National Teams, Real Madrid, Manchester United, the 2007 Gold Cup Final and 2009 Gold Cup Semifinals. The city's annual Prep Bowl, the Chicago Classic and Northern Illinois University football have also played on the natural grass of Soldier Field. The Chicago Bears have performed well in their new home and capped off their 2006 season by winning the NFC Championship game to advance to the Super Bowl. |
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