Alumni Hall (DePaul University)

Alumni Hall
Ray Meyer Court
Location	1011 W Belden Ave; Chicago, Illinois 60604
Coordinates	41°55′23″N87°39′14″W / 41.923°N 87.654°W
Owner	DePaul University
Operator	DePaul University
Capacity	5,308 (basketball)
Construction
Broke ground	October 3, 1955
Opened	December 16, 1956
Closed	February 26, 2000
Demolished	Summer, 2000
Construction cost	$2 million
Architect	Naess & Murphy
Tenants
	DePaul Blue Demons (NCAA) (1956–2000); Chicago Hustle (WBL) (1978–1981)

Last updated August 13, 2024

Alumni Hall was a 5,308-seat multi-purpose arena in Chicago on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus.^[1]

History

Alumni Hall was dedicated on December 16, 1956, and was owned and operated by DePaul University.^[2] It replaced the University Auditorium, the school's prior on-campus gym.

A student-led fundraising campaign raised $25,000 over five weeks. This covered part of the building cost, which totaled $2 million. Construction began on Oct. 3 in 1955 and finished in December 1956.^[3]

The 44-year-old building consisted of classrooms, offices, an arena, a gymnasium with 5,200 seats, a swimming pool, locker rooms, handball courts and a cafeteria. Alumni Hall's value was equivalent to $18 million today. ^[4]

It was home to the DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team from 1956 until they moved to the Rosemont Horizon in 1980.^[1] The DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team played all their home games at Alumni Hall from 1974 to 2000, while the men's team played occasional games there. The DePaul Blue Demons women's volleyball team also played their home matches at Alumni Hall.^[5]

The building was the site of the first round of the men's NCAA Midwest Regional in 1960 ^[6] and was used for first round NCAA women's basketball tournament games in 1990 and 1992.

The arena closed in 2000 and was torn down in 2001. The women's team moved to the Sullivan Athletic Center and the men's team moved all games to their main arena, the Allstate Arena (formerly the Rosemont Horizon).^[2]

The land for Alumni Hall was repurposed for the new DePaul Student Center.^[7]

The arena has been succeeded by the Wintrust Arena. It was built in the fall of 2017 and holds 10,367 seats for DePaul's men's and women's basketball games. It is also home to the Chicago Sky of the WNBA.^[4]^[8]

Professional basketball

Alumni Hall was the practice facility for the Chicago Bulls in the 1960s and 1970s.^[2]^[5] Alumni Hall was home to the Chicago Hustle of the WBL from 1978 to 1981.^[5]

Related Research Articles

DePaul University is a private Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th-century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul. In 1998, it became the largest Catholic university in terms of enrollment in North America. Following in the footsteps of its founders, DePaul places special emphasis on recruiting first-generation students and others from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Allstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Rosemont, Illinois, United States, northwest of Chicago, located at the corner of Mannheim Road and Lunt Avenue, just north of Mannheim Road's interchange with the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of O'Hare International Airport. The facility opened in 1980 as the Rosemont Horizon and seats 17,500 for basketball and 16,692 for ice hockey.

The Sullivan Athletic Center is an athletic facility on the campus of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. The facility houses McGrath-Phillips Arena, a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena.

The DePaul Blue Demons are the athletic teams that represent DePaul University, located in Chicago, Illinois. The Blue Demons participate in NCAA Division I and are a member of the Big East Conference.

The DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. The team competes in the Big East Conference. DePaul's last NCAA tournament victory was in 2004. DePaul's NCAA tournament record since the end of the 1991–92 season is 1–2, spanning the last 30 tournaments played.

The DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. The team competes in the Big East Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wintrust Arena</span> Indoor arena in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Wintrust Arena at McCormick Square, previously referred to as DePaul Arena or McCormick Place Events Center, is a 10,387-seat sports venue in the Near South Side community area of Chicago that opened in 2017. It is the current home court for the men's and women's basketball teams of DePaul University and serves as an events center for McCormick Place. It also is the home of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

The 2016–17 DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blue Demons, led by 31st year head coach Doug Bruno, played their home games at the McGrath–Phillips Arena as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 27–8, 16–2 in Big East play to win the Big East regular season title. They advanced to the championship game of the Big East women's tournament where they lost to Marquette. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA women's tournament where they defeated Northern Iowa in the first round before losing to Mississippi State in the second round.

The 2016–17 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played almost all of their home games at Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, though they scheduled two regular-season games at the considerably smaller McGrath–Phillips Arena, the regular home of the DePaul women's team, on the school's Chicago campus. The Blue Demons, members of the Big East Conference, were led by head coach Dave Leitao, in the second year of his current tenure and fifth overall at DePaul. They finished the season 9–23, 2–16 in Big East play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the Big East tournament to Xavier.

The 2017–18 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by third-year head coach Dave Leitao and played their home games at the new Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 11–20, 4–14 in Big East play to finish in a tie for ninth place. They lost in the first round of the Big East tournament to Marquette.

The 2017–18 DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team represents DePaul University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blue Demons, led by thirty-second year head coach Doug Bruno, play their home games at the Wintrust Arena. They were members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 27–8, 15–3 in Big East play to share the Big East regular season title with Marquette. They won the Big East women's tournament by defeating Marquette in the championship game. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA women's tournament where they defeated Oklahoma in the first round before losing to Texas A&M in the second round.

The 2018–18 DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blue Demons, led by thirty-third year head coach Doug Bruno, played their home games at the Wintrust Arena as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 26–8, 14–4 in Big East play to finish in second place. DePaul won the Big East Conference tournament championship game over Marquette, 74–73. They were upset in the first round by Missouri State in the NCAA women's tournament.

University Auditorium or the College Theater Building and nicknamed "The Barn" was a multi-purpose arena and theater in Chicago on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus.

The 2019–20 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Dave Leitao and played their home games at Wintrust Arena in Chicago as members of the Big East Conference. The Demons finished the season 16–16, 3–15 in Big East play to finish in last place. They defeated Xavier in the first round of the Big East tournament before the remaining tournament was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2019–20 DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blue Demons, led by thirty-fourth year head coach Doug Bruno, played their home games at the Wintrust Arena and the McGrath-Phillips Arena as members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 28–5, 15–3 in Big East play to finish in first place. DePaul won the Big East Conference tournament championship game over Marquette, 88–74. The NCAA tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The 1981–82 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Ray Meyer, in his 40th season, and played their home games at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont.

The 2021–22 DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Blue Demons were led by thirty-sixth year head coach Doug Bruno and played their home games at the Wintrust Arena as members of the Big East Conference.

The 1986–87 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Joey Meyer, in his 3rd season at the school, and played their home games at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont.

The 1987–88 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Joey Meyer, in his 4th season at the school, and played their home games at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont.

The 2022–23 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by second-year head coach Tony Stubblefield and played their home games at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois as members of the Big East Conference. The Demons finished the season 10–23, 3–17 in Big East play to finish in tenth place. They defeated Seton Hall in the first round of the Big East tournament before losing to Xavier in the quarterfinals.

References

1 2 "DePaul Basketball A-to-Z". depaulbluedemons.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
1 2 3 "Then and now: Chicago's lost sports venues". chicagotribune.com. 17 August 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
↑ "Into the Archives | Sections | DePaul University Newsline | DePaul University, Chicago".
1 2 "Facilities".
1 2 3 "Adios, Alumni Hall". chicagotribune.com. 19 November 1999. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
↑ "1960 NCAA basketball tournament Bracket". sports-reference.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
↑ "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
↑ "Wintrust Arena".

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[DePaul_BBall-1] 1 2 "DePaul Basketball A-to-Z". depaulbluedemons.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.

[Chicago_Sports_Venues-2] 1 2 3 "Then and now: Chicago's lost sports venues". chicagotribune.com. 17 August 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2019.

[3] "Into the Archives | Sections | DePaul University Newsline | DePaul University, Chicago".

[depaulbluedemons_com-4] 1 2 "Facilities".

[Alumni_Hall_History-5] 1 2 3 "Adios, Alumni Hall". chicagotribune.com. 19 November 1999. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

[6] "1960 NCAA basketball tournament Bracket". sports-reference.com. Retrieved April 28, 2019.

[NCAA_Stats-7] "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.

[8] "Wintrust Arena".

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v t e DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball
Venues	University Auditorium (1923–1956) Alumni Hall (1956–1980) Allstate Arena (1980–2017) Wintrust Arena (2017–present) McGrath-Phillips Arena (practice/alternate 2000–2017)
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball
Venues	Alumni Hall (1974–2000) * McGrath-Phillips Arena (practice/alternate 2000–2017) Wintrust Arena (2017–present)
Culture & lore	Crossover at Kinnick
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24

v t e DePaul University
Academics	College of Computing and Digital Media College of Law Kellstadt Graduate School of Business The Theatre School
Athletics	Sports: DePaul Blue Demons Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's soccer Big East Conference Venues: McGrath-Phillips Arena Wintrust Arena
Campus	Merle Reskin Theatre
Student life	The DePaulia
History	Allstate Arena Alumni Hall Barat College Congregation of the Mission McCormick Theological Seminary University Auditorium Vincent de Paul
People	Alumni Dennis H. Holtschneider

Construction
Ray Meyer Court

Location	1011 W Belden Ave Chicago, Illinois 60604
Coordinates	41°55′23″N87°39′14″W / 41.923°N 87.654°W / 41.923; -87.654
Owner	DePaul University
Operator	DePaul University
Capacity	5,308 (basketball)
Broke ground	October 3, 1955
Opened	December 16, 1956
Closed	February 26, 2000
Demolished	Summer, 2000
Construction cost	$2 million
Architect	Naess & Murphy
Tenants
DePaul Blue Demons (NCAA) (1956–2000) Chicago Hustle (WBL) (1978–1981)

Alumni Hall (DePaul University)

Contents

History

Professional basketball

Related Research Articles

References