Wintrust Arena opened to the public during Open House Chicago with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. As the latest addition to the McCormick Square community, which also recently unveiled the new Marriott Marquis Chicago hotel, Wintrust Arena presents a state-of-the-art entertainment center in Chicago’s South Loop. “After months of construction and anticipation, we are pleased to finally open Wintrust Arena to the public on time and on budget,” said Lori Healey, CEO of Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA). “This arena has been a much-anticipated feature for our campus, the DePaul community and neighborhood as a whole and we’re excited to bring this new offering to our clients and generate another economic boost in our city and state.”

According to a recent economic impact study by the University of Illinois at Chicago and funded by the MPEA, new additions like the Wintrust Arena are estimated to bring more than $9 billion dollars in economic benefit to the City of Chicago and State of Illinois through 2018. Wintrust Arena is the newest home to DePaul University men’s and women’s basketballs teams, as well as Chicago’s WNBA team, the Chicago Sky. It will also serve as a venue for concerts, large-scale meetings, and other events that complement the conventions taking place on the McCormick Square campus. “After nearly 40 years, Blue Demon basketball is back where it belongs, in the City of Chicago,” said Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, president of DePaul University. “We’re honored to work with Wintrust Bank and MPEA to complete this first-class arena and welcome our neighbors to a venue that is sure to bring excitement and school spirit back to the city.” Wintrust Arena will host its first concert on October 27, with a performance by Bob Dylan and special guest Mavis Staples. For more information about Wintrust Arena and a full schedule of events, please visit www.WintrustArena.com.