Chase Center on the Riverfront facts for kids
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| Address | 815 Justison Street |
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| Location | Wilmington, Delaware |
| Public transit |  DART First State bus: 25 |
| Capacity | 92,000 square feet |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Architect | Gant Brunett Architects |
The Chase Center on the Riverfront is a large building in Wilmington, Delaware. It's a place where many different events happen. This includes concerts, big meetings called conventions, and special dinners or parties. The building is about 92,000 square feet in size.
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What is the Chase Center on the Riverfront?
The Chase Center on the Riverfront is a special building in Wilmington, Delaware. It is known as a convention center. This means it's designed to hold large gatherings. People come here for many reasons. They might attend a concert or a big meeting. The center also hosts banquets, which are formal dinners. It's a busy spot for events in the Wilmington area.
How Was the Chase Center Built?
The building has a long and interesting past. It was first built during World War II. Back then, it was a factory. Workers used it to assemble parts for ships. This was for the Dravo Corporation. After the war, the shipyard closed down.
Later, people wanted to make the Wilmington riverfront a lively place again. They looked at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore as an example. In 1998, the building was rebuilt. It opened as the First USA Riverfront Arts Center. It was a huge hall, about 120,000 square feet. This new center was made to show special art exhibits. It was like a museum. The cost to rebuild it was about $10 million. First USA Bank helped pay for it. They also got the right to name the building.
How Did the Name Change Over Time?
The building's name changed a few times. In 2002, the Delaware Art Museum used it. They needed a temporary space while their own building was being fixed. In January 2003, the name changed to the Bank One Center on the Riverfront. This happened because the First USA brand was no longer used.
After the art museum moved out, the building changed again. It was made into a convention center. It also became a place for banquets. This new version opened in 2005. In 2007, another name change happened. This was after Chase Bank joined with Bank One. So, the building became the Chase Center on the Riverfront. In 2014, a new hotel opened next to the center. It was a Westin hotel with 180 rooms.
What Kinds of Events Happen Here?
The Chase Center on the Riverfront hosts many different events.
Popular Shows and Competitions
Some big shows take place here. For example, the Delaware Antique Show is held at the center. It is one of the oldest shows in Delaware. The center also hosts the Miss Delaware USA and Miss Delaware Teen USA beauty pageants. These are competitions where young women compete for titles. The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen also holds its Fine Craft Fair here. This fair shows off beautiful handmade items.
Important Political Gatherings
The Chase Center has also been a place for important political events. The Delaware Democratic Party has held its Jefferson-Jackson Dinner here. Funerals for police officers have also taken place at the center. Sometimes, political rallies are held there too.
2020 Presidential Speeches
In 2020, the Chase Center was very important for the Democratic Party. The nominees for President and Vice President gave their acceptance speeches here. These were Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The event was supposed to be in Milwaukee. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was moved to Wilmington. Wilmington is Joe Biden's hometown.
People watched Biden's speech from their cars. They parked in the lot of the nearby Frawley Stadium. After the speech, Biden, Harris, and their families appeared. There was also a fireworks show.
On November 7, 2020, President-elect Biden gave his victory speech from an outdoor stage. This stage was right by the Chase Center. After his speech, Biden, Harris, and their families came out again. There was another fireworks show and a drone light show.
