Wintrust Arena at McCormick Square

Design and features

The arena was designed with flexibility in mind: a main bowl for basketball and court sports, configurable floor space for concerts and special events, and premium seating options. Features commonly noted at venues of this scale include corporate suites, club seating, modern video boards, and lighting and sound systems tuned for live performances. The seating bowl provides sightlines suitable for both sporting events and theatrical presentations.

History and purpose

Built as part of a larger effort to revitalize the McCormick Square area, Wintrust Arena returned DePaul basketball closer to the university after many years of playing off-campus. It also expanded the event capacity of McCormick Place by adding an arena-scale venue that can be scheduled independently or alongside convention activity. The arena carries a commercial name through a local corporate sponsor and integrates with the city's broader convention and entertainment offerings.

Uses and tenants

Primary tenants include the men's and women's basketball teams of DePaul University. The arena is also the home court for the Chicago Sky, a franchise of the WNBA. Beyond those regular occupants, the venue stages concerts, family shows, corporate gatherings and sporting exhibitions, and functions as an ancillary space for the adjacent McCormick Place complex.

Access, neighborhood and notable facts

Located in the city's Near South Side community area, the arena benefits from proximity to downtown Chicago, the lakefront and public transit corridors. It contributes to the area's economic activity by attracting visitors for both scheduled games and one-off events. The facility is often mentioned in discussions about the intersection of college athletics, professional women's sports and urban convention infrastructure.

Further information

• For details on DePaul athletics and schedules, see DePaul University athletics.
• Learn more about the arena's role within the McCormick Place campus at McCormick Place.
• Follow the Chicago Sky and WNBA coverage via Chicago Sky and WNBA resources.
• Neighborhood context and planning references can be found through local municipal and community outlets: Near South Side.