Chicago Stadium facts for kids
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Chicago Stadium in 1984, ten years before closure
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| Address | 1800 West Madison Street Chicago, Illinois United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°52′54″N 87°40′22″W / 41.88167°N 87.67278°W |
| Owner | Chicago Stadium Corp. |
| Operator | Chicago Stadium Corp. |
| Capacity | 18,676 (basketball) 17,317 (ice hockey) 18,472 (ice hockey with standing room) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 2, 1928 |
| Opened | March 28, 1929 |
| Closed | September 9, 1994 |
| Demolished | February–May 1995 |
| Construction cost | $5–9.5 million (est.) ($162 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Hall, Lawrence & Ratcliffe, Inc. |
| Builder | Paddy Harmon |
| Tenants | |
| Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) (1929–1994) Chicago Stags (BAA/NBA) (1946–1950) Chicago Majors (ABL) (1961–1963) Chicago Bulls (NBA) (1967–1994) Chicago Sting (NASL/MISL) (1980–1988) |
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Chicago Stadium was a famous indoor sports arena in Chicago, Illinois. It was open from 1929 to 1995. When it was first built, it was the biggest indoor arena in the world. It could hold up to 26,000 people.
This stadium was the home for two major sports teams: the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls. Many other exciting events happened there too. These included boxing matches, concerts, and even important political meetings. People often called it "The Madhouse on Madison" because of how loud and exciting it could get. A huge pipe organ played music during events, adding to the fun atmosphere.
The stadium was built by a man named Paddy Harmon. He put a lot of his own money into the project. Later, the stadium was owned by the Norris and Wirtz families until it closed in 1994. It was replaced by the United Center, which is right across the street.
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A Look Back at Chicago Stadium's History
Chicago Stadium was home to the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team from 1929 to 1994. The Chicago Bulls basketball team also played there from 1967 to 1994. It hosted the very first NFL playoff game in 1932. The stadium was also used for many other big events. These included political conventions, concerts, rodeos, and boxing matches.
Paddy Harmon first thought of building the stadium in 1926. He wanted to bring a hockey team to Chicago, like the successful teams in New York. He spent a lot of money and borrowed more to make his dream happen. The architect, Eric Hall, designed the stadium so everyone had a good view. He believed that even people with the cheapest tickets deserved to see the action clearly. The building had cool Art Deco designs, like tall windows and sculptures of athletes.
Construction started in July 1928 and finished quickly, opening on March 28, 1929. It cost millions of dollars to build. At the time, it was the largest indoor arena in the world. It had seats for 15,000 people, but could hold 26,000 with extra floor seats and standing room. The first event was a big boxing match.
Chicago Stadium was one of the first arenas to have an air conditioning system. However, it was not perfect. Sometimes, fog would fill the arena during games! Also, there were no elevators. Workers had to pass heavy beer kegs up the stairs by hand. They would roll empty kegs back down, which damaged the stairs over time.
Paddy Harmon became the stadium's first president. But he faced some challenges. There were disagreements about getting the Blackhawks team to play there. Eventually, the stadium's board asked Harmon to step down. The Blackhawks then moved into the stadium a few weeks later. Harmon sadly passed away less than a year later. His funeral was held at the stadium, and a boxing show was held to help his family.
In 1933, the stadium faced financial difficulties. It was then sold in 1935 to James Norris and Arthur Wirtz. They were important figures in sports and real estate. These families owned the stadium until it closed.
How Many People Could Chicago Stadium Hold?
When Chicago Stadium closed, it could hold 17,317 people for hockey games. With standing room, even more fans could fit inside. The biggest crowd for a hockey game was over 20,000 people in 1982.
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The "Madhouse on Madison" Nickname
The stadium earned its famous nickname, "The Madhouse on Madison," for a good reason. Its design, with three levels of seats packed closely together, made the noise from fans incredibly loud.
A big part of this noise came from the amazing 3,663-pipe Barton organ. This organ was so powerful it sounded like 25 brass bands playing at once! It had the largest theater organ console in the world. Al Melgard played it for decades during hockey games. This organ helped make the stadium known as "The Loudest Arena in the NBA."
When the stadium closed in 1994, the organ was taken out. Sadly, it was damaged in an accident a year later. However, the main part of the organ (the console) survived. It was later fixed and is now in good working order in a private home.
The dressing rooms for the teams were under the seats. A narrow, twenty-two-step hallway led to the ice. This hallway became famous among players. There was even a legend that a German Shepherd dog helped with security at night!
In 1973, the Blackhawks owner, Bill Wirtz, had his yacht's horn installed in the stadium. It would blast after Blackhawks goals. This tradition became very popular in professional hockey.
Nancy Faust, a famous organist, played for the Bulls from 1976 to 1984. She also played the pipe organ for the Blackhawks from 1985 to 1989. Later, Frank Pellico took over as the Blackhawks' organist.
Another special tradition was how loudly Blackhawks fans cheered during the national anthem. This was especially true when Chicago favorite Wayne Messmer sang. Fans in the upper balconies sometimes added sparklers and flags. This exciting tradition continues today at the United Center.
The stadium also offered a unique fan experience. On the west side, there was a special parking lot for players and VIPs. This was where teams and performers would enter through "Gate 3 1/2." Fans would gather there to see their favorite stars and sometimes even get autographs.
In the mid-1980s, a new tradition started for Bulls games. The announcer, Tommy Edwards, would introduce the starting lineup with spotlights and the song "Sirius" by The Alan Parsons Project. This introduction became famous, especially during the Bulls' championship years with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
In 1992, both the Blackhawks and the Bulls made it to their league finals. The Blackhawks lost their finals. But the Bulls won their second of three straight NBA titles at Chicago Stadium that year. This was the only time the Bulls won a championship on their home court at Chicago Stadium.
The Last Analog Game Clock
Chicago Stadium was the last NHL arena to use an old-fashioned analog clock for game time. This large, four-sided clock was installed in 1943. It had a big dial in the middle for the main game time. Smaller dials on the sides showed penalty times. It was sometimes hard to read the exact time left on the main clock because the hands moved constantly.
In 1975, this analog clock was replaced with a modern digital scoreboard. Then, in 1985, an even newer scoreboard with a color electronic message board was installed.
The stadium also had a slightly shorter ice surface than today's standard. This was because it was built before the current rules were in place.
Chicago Stadium's Demolition
After the Blackhawks and Bulls moved to the United Center, Chicago Stadium was torn down in 1995. The area where it once stood is now a parking lot for the United Center. Many fans were sad to see the old building go.
The console of the famous Barton organ is now in a private residence in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also, a piece of the Chicago Bulls' basketball floor is in Michael Jordan's trophy room.
Today, you can find a special plaque on the pavement near the United Center. It says "Chicago Stadium – 1929–1994 – Remember The Roar." This plaque is behind a statue of the Blackhawks' greatest players. Some decorative pieces from Chicago Stadium were also saved and used in a building at St. Ignatius College Prep School.
Memorable Events at Chicago Stadium
Chicago Stadium hosted many exciting events over its history.
Basketball Highlights
- 1973 and 1988: Chicago hosted the NBA All-Star Game.
- 1987: Michael Jordan scored 61 points in one game. He became only the second NBA player ever to score over 3,000 points in a single season.
- 1991: The Chicago Bulls won their first-ever championship.
- 1992: The Bulls won their second NBA title at home in Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals.
- 1993: The Chicago Bulls won their third championship.
- 1994: The last Bulls home game at Chicago Stadium was on May 20.
- 1994: The very last event at Chicago Stadium was a charity basketball game. Michael Jordan played in it, even though he was retired at the time. He scored 52 points! At the end of the game, Jordan famously kneeled and kissed the Bulls logo at center court.
Hockey Highlights
- 1934: The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup on their home ice.
- 1938: The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup again at home. This was their last Stanley Cup win in Chicago Stadium.
- 1961: Bobby Hull scored two goals in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. The Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup that year, but not at home.
- 1961, 1974, and 1991: The stadium hosted the NHL All-Star Game.
- 1992: The last Stanley Cup Finals game at Chicago Stadium was played.
- 1994: The final hockey game at Chicago Stadium was on April 28. The Blackhawks lost, ending their playoff run.
Football History
- 1932: Because of a big snowstorm, the Chicago Bears played their NFL championship game inside Chicago Stadium. They won 9–0 against the Portsmouth Spartans.
Soccer Matches
- 1984: The NASL held its only All-Star game here. The All-Stars beat the host Chicago Sting team.
Boxing Matches
- 1929: The stadium opened with a boxing match between Tommy Loughran and Mickey Walker.
- 1947: Rocky Graziano won a famous fight against Tony Zale in front of a huge crowd.
- 1951: Sugar Ray Robinson defeated Jake LaMotta in their sixth and final fight.
- 1953: Undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott in the first round.
Concerts and Music
Many famous musicians played at Chicago Stadium, including:
- 1972: Jethro Tull
- 1974: Bob Dylan and The Band, Elton John
- 1975: The Beach Boys and Chicago (on their "Beachago Tour"), Santana, The Rolling Stones, The Who
- 1976: Paul McCartney and Wings
- 1977: Queen, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac
- 1978: Billy Joel
- 1979: The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson and his brothers (The Jacksons)
- 1981: Electric Light Orchestra, The Jacksons
- 1994: The final concert was held on March 10, featuring Pearl Jam.
Other Special Events
- 1932, 1940, and 1944: The stadium hosted the Democratic National Conventions. Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated for President here three times.
- 1932 and 1944: It also hosted the Republican National Conventions.
- 1933: The funeral for Chicago mayor Anton J. Cermak was held here.
- 1946: Cowboy star Roy Rogers proposed to Dale Evans backstage during a rodeo.
- 1968: Olympic gold medalist Peggy Fleming performed with the Ice Capades.
Images for kids
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Chicago Stadium in 1984, ten years before closure
See also
In Spanish: Chicago Stadium para niños
