Sears Centre Arena

The Sears Centre Arena is an 11,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb 25 miles (40 km) from Chicago. The arena has 43 luxury suites on two separate levels and seating capacities range from 2,200 (theater set-up) to 10,595 for end stage events.[6] It was estimated to attract over 750,000 visitors annually.[1]

Sears Centre

Address	5333 Prairie Stone Parkway
Location	Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Owner	Village of Hoffman Estates
Operator	Comcast Spectacor
Capacity	Concerts: 11,800 Basketball: 10,000 Football, hockey, lacrosse, and soccer: 9,400 Theater shows: 3,000–6,000[1]
Field size	Maximum Floor Dimensions: 105’ X 248’ Ice Rink Maximum Dimensions: 200’ x 85’ Ceiling Height (floor to steel): 70’[2]
Surface	Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground	July 21, 2005[3]
Opened	October 26, 2006
Construction cost	$62 million
Architect	RoehrSchmitt Architecture[4]
General contractor	Ryan Companies[5]
Tenants
Chicago Hounds (UHL) (2006–2007) Chicago Storm (MISL II/XSL) (2006–2009) Chicago Shamrox (NLL) (2007–2008) Chicago Slaughter (CIFL/IFL) (2007–2013) Chicago Bliss (LFL) (2009–2010, 2013–2014, 2018–2019) Chicago Outlaws (CILL) (2011–2013) Chicago Express (ECHL) (2011–2012) Chicago Soul FC (MISL III) (2012–2013) Chicago Mustangs (MASL/M2) (2014–2015, 2017–2019) Windy City Bulls (NBA G League) (2016–present)
Website
www.searscentre.com

The ice surface set up for a hockey game.

Since 2016, the arena has been home to the Windy City Bulls, the Chicago Bulls' affiliate in the NBA G League.[7]

The Sears Centre Arena is located near the former site of the Poplar Creek Music Theater.

History

The venue opened on October 26, 2006, with performances by Duran Duran and Bob Dylan.

In 2011, the Village of Hoffman Estates took over ownership of the arena after Ryan Companies US, Inc. walked away from the arena due to the arena's lack of success.[8] However, since the village took over the arena and hired Global Spectrum to manage it,[9] the arena has shown improvements.[10]

The naming rights to the arena were not affected by Sears Holdings' bankruptcy in 2018.

On June 23, 2020, the Village of Hoffman Estates approved an $11.5 million deal to rename the venue to NOW Arena.[11]

Notable events

• In 2008 and from 2010 until 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.[12]
• 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,[13] 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.
• 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.

USA Gymnastics

• 2013 U.S. Challenge (July 26, 2013)[14]
• 2013 U.S. Classic (July 27, 2013)[15]
• 2014 U.S. Classic (August 2, 2014)[16]
• 2015 U.S. Classic (July 25, 2015)
• 2017 U.S. Classic (July 29, 2017)

Gallery

• 
• 

References

1. "About Us". SearsCentre.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
2. "Promoter Guide". SearsCentre.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
3. "Groundbreaking is set for Sears Centre arena". Chicago Tribune. July 20, 2005.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-09-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "LeJeune Steel was selected as the Structural Steel manufacturer and | News | APi Group".
6. "Plan An Event". SearsCentre.com. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
7. Halberstadt, Doug (January 20, 2015). "Sears Centre offers variety of sporting events". Rock River Times. Rockford, Illinois. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
8. Selvam, Ashok (December 16, 2009). "Hoffman Estates takes over Sears Centre". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
9. "Hoffman Estates adjusts to owning arena". DailyHerald.com. 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
10. "Sears Centre shining for Hoffman Estates". DailyHerald.com. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
11. Zumbach, Lauren (June 23, 2020). "Sears name disappearing from another Chicago-area building. Hoffman Estates arena gets a new name this fall". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
12. "Bound For Glory 2008 In Chicago". TNAWrestling.com. 2007-09-20. Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
13. "All In sellout a genuine surprise to Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks". 23 May 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
14. "Kenlin, Shchennikova Win All-Around In The Hopes Division Of 2013 U.S. Challenge". Retrieved July 2, 2014.
15. "Ross Wins All-Around At 2013 Secret U.S. Classic". Retrieved July 2, 2014.
16. "Single-Session Tickets For 2014 Secret U.S. Classic Go On Sale May 16". 14 May 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.

External links

• Sears Centre Chicago
• Sears Centre Arena Chicago show guide to Chicago

Events and tenants
Preceded by UIC Pavilion	Home of the Chicago Storm 2006–2009	Succeeded by Chicago Sports Zone