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Multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Now Arena (originally known as the Sears Centre, Sears Centre Arena and stylized as NOW Arena) is a multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb 25 miles (40 km) from Chicago, near land which formerly contained the Poplar Creek Music Theater. Since 2016, the arena has been home to the Windy City Bulls, the Chicago Bulls' affiliate in the NBA G League.[3]
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Exterior view of the arena (c. 2011) | |
Former names | Sears Centre Arena (2006–2020) |
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Address | 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy |
Location | Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. |
Owner | Village of Hoffman Estates |
Operator | Spectra |
Capacity | 10,543 Detailed capacity[1]
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Construction | |
Broke ground | July 21, 2005 |
Opened | October 26, 2006 |
Construction cost | $60 million ($93.6 million in 2023 dollars[2]) |
Architect | RoehrSchmitt |
Project manager | GTG Consultants |
Structural engineer | Needham DBS |
Services engineer | V3 Consultants |
General contractor | Ryan Companies |
Tenants | |
Chicago Hounds (UHL) (2006–07) Chicago Storm (MISL II/XSL) (2006–09) Chicago Shamrox (NLL) (2007–08) Chicago Slaughter (CIFL/IFL) (2007–13) Chicago Bliss (LFL) (2009–10, 2013–14, 2018–19) Chicago Outlaws (CILL) (2011–13) Chicago Express (ECHL) (2011–12) Chicago Soul FC (MISL III) (2012–13) Chicago Mustangs (MASL/M2) (2014–15, 2017-19) Windy City Bulls (NBAGL) (2016–present) | |
Website | |
nowarena |
The venue was a joint venture between Sears Holdings, Ryan Companies, and the Village of Hoffman Estates.[4] The project began in 1998; however, plans were not finalized until 2005.[5] Construction began in July 2005.[6] The venue opened as Sears Centre on October 26, 2006, with performances by Duran Duran[7] and Bob Dylan.[8]
In 2011, the Village of Hoffman Estates took over ownership of the arena after Ryan Companies walked away from the arena due to the arena's lack of success.[9] However, since the village took over the arena and hired Global Spectrum to manage it,[10] the arena has shown improvement.[11]
The naming rights to the arena were not affected by Sears Holdings declaring bankruptcy in 2018,[12] with the company paying $1.5 million to secure naming rights for an additional 18 months. On June 23, 2020, the Village of Hoffman Estates approved an $11.5 million deal to rename the venue to NOW Arena,[13] with the naming rights belonging to the NOW Health Group, a family-owned natural products manufacturer based in Bloomingdale, Illinois.[14] The name change would officially take effect on September 1, 2020.[15]