International Amphitheatre
The International Amphitheatre was an indoor arena located in Chicago, Illinois, that opened in 1934 and was demolished in 1999. It was located on the west side of Halsted Street, at 42nd Street, on the city's south side, in the Canaryville neighborhood, adjacent to the Union Stock Yards.
History
The Amphitheatre opened on November 30, 1934. It was built for $1.5 million by the Stock Yard company principally to host the International Livestock Exhibition. The arena replaced Dexter Park, a horse track that stood on the site for over 50 years until destroyed by fire in 1934. The completion of the Amphitheatre ushered in an era where Chicago reigned as a convention capital. In an era before air conditioning and space for press and broadcast media were commonplace, the International Amphitheatre was among the first arenas to be equipped with these innovations.The Stock Yards closed in 1971, but the Amphitheatre continued to host rock concerts, college basketball, local high school playoff games, circuses, religious gatherings, and other events. However, the loss of conventions and trade shows to the modern and conveniently located McCormick Place convention center in the 1960s and 1970s, started the Amphitheatre's decline, which increased as other convention and concert venues in the area drew events away. By the 1980s, the venue struggled to compete with such facilities as Chicago Stadium, the Rosemont Horizon, the Arie Crown Theater, the Alpine Valley Music Theatre, the Holiday Star Theatre, the UIC Pavilion, and the renovated Chicago Theatre.
In the late 1970s, developer Harry Chaddick proposed replacing the Amphitheatre with a shopping center, but these plans ended when Mayor Michael Bilandic revoked his support after residents and political leaders in the Canaryville and Bridgeport neighborhoods complained that such a development would lead to intense vehicular traffic as well as attract residents from nearby Chicago Housing Authority projects.
After an automobile swap show in 1983, the venue closed. It was sold to new owners for $250,000 and sat dormant. For the next three years, plans were floated to convert it into a sound stage. But on November 28, 1987, the International Amphitheatre reopened with a game by the Loyola Ramblers college basketball team, who became full-time tenants after repairs and improvements were made. A further $5 million renovation was planned, and it was intended that Loyola basketball would remain tenants for at least five years. However, in 1989, Loyola moved to the Rosemont Horizon after the team drew as few as 500 spectators to its games at the Amphitheatre.
The sprawling venue was difficult to maintain and struggled to attract enough events to pay for its upkeep. After passing through the hands of multiple owners, including the city, demolition commenced in August of 1999. An Aramark Uniform Services plant is located on the site once occupied by the Amphitheatre. Part of the former convention hall extension still remains standing and is occupied by Lakeshore Beverage.
Events and tenants
The North American International Livestock Exposition was held at the arena until several years after the Union Stock Yards closed in July 1971, when it relocated to Louisville, Kentucky.Presidential nominating conventions
The Amphitheatre hosted several national American presidential nominating conventions, with an overall record of 1-4:- 1952 Republican National Convention
- 1952 Democratic National Convention
- 1956 Democratic National Convention
- 1960 Republican National Convention
- 1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention was one of the most tumultuous political conventions in American history, noted by anti-war protests.
Sports
Televised boxing and wrestling were held at the venue for decades, making it well-known across the United States. It was home to Chicago's wrestling scene into the 1980s, and in 1981, Joe Frazier's final boxing match was at the Amphitheatre.The arena seated 9,000 for sports and was the first home of the Chicago Packers of the NBA in 1961-62, before becoming the Chicago Zephyrs and moving to the Chicago Coliseum for their second season. It was also the home of the Chicago Bulls during their inaugural season in 1966-67. The team played once time at the Chicago Coliseum, a playoff game in their first season, as no other arena was available for a date with the St. Louis Hawks. The Bulls moved permanently to Chicago Stadium, where they remained until 1993, when they relocated to the United Center.
The Amphitheatre was also the primary home of the Chicago Cougars of the WHA from 1972 to 1975. It was originally intended to be a temporary home for the Cougars, but the permanent solution, the Rosemont Horizon, was not completed until 1980, five years after the team folded and a year after the WHA ceased operation.
The Chicago Public League 1991 tournament at the Amphitheatre, won by Marshall High School, was featured in the documentary film Hoop Dreams.