Now Arena

{{Short description|Multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S.}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Now Arena

| nickname =

| logo_image = File:Now Arena logo.svg

| logo_size =

| logo_alt =

| logo_caption =

| image = Sears Centre.JPG

| image_size = 250px

| image_upright =

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| caption = Exterior view of the arena (c. 2011)

| pushpin_map = Illinois#USA

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Illinois##Location within the United States

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_label = Now Arena

| mapframe = no

| fullname =

| former names = Sears Centre Arena (2006–2020)

| address = 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy

| location = Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S.

| publictransit =

| parking =

| owner = Village of Hoffman Estates

| operator = Spectra

| designation =

| type =

| genre =

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| suites =

| capacity = 10,543
{{Collapsible list|expand=|framestyle=|titlestyle=|title=Detailed capacity{{cite journal |author= |title=Building Specifications |url=https://www.nowarena.com/assets/documents/partials/site_assetdownload/mWnW9.pdf |journal=Sears Centre Arena Promoter Guide |location=Hoffman Estates, Illinois|page=16 |date=June 2019 |access-date=December 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220014156/https://www.nowarena.com/assets/documents/partials/site_assetdownload/mWnW9.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2020}}|liststyle=|hlist=|bullets=|Center stage concerts: 11,218|End stage concerts: 7,410|Half house concerts: 5,961 |Family Theater: 3,622|Concert Theater: 4,628|Basketball: 8,700|Football: 8,362|Soccer: 8,172|Lacrosse: 8,329}}

| record_attendance =

| dimensions =

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| surface =

| scoreboard =

| screens =

| currentuse =

| production =

| broke_ground = {{Start date|2005|07|21}}

| built =

| opened = {{Start date|2006|10|26}}

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| rebuilt =

| yearsactive =

| cost = $60 million
{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|60000000|2005}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}}

| architect = RoehrSchmitt

| builder =

| project_manager = GTG Consultants

| structural engineer = Needham DBS

| services engineer = V3 Consultants

| general_contractor = Ryan Companies

| main_contractors =

| tenants = Chicago Hounds {{small|(UHL) (2006–07)}}
Chicago Storm {{small|(MISL II/XSL) (2006–09)}}
Chicago Shamrox {{small|(NLL) (2007–08)}}
Chicago Slaughter {{small|(CIFL/IFL) (2007–13)}}
Chicago Bliss {{small|(LFL) (2009–10, 2013–14, 2018–19)}}
Chicago Outlaws {{small|(CILL) (2011–13)}}
Chicago Express {{small|(ECHL) (2011–12)}}
Chicago Soul FC {{small|(MISL III) (2012–13)}}
Chicago Mustangs {{small|(MASL/M2) (2014–15, 2017-19)}}
Windy City Bulls {{small|(NBAGL) (2016–present)}}

| website = {{URL|nowarena.com}}

| embedded =

}}

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 {{convert|25|mi}} 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.{{cite news |first=Doug |last=Halberstadt |newspaper=Rock River Times |location=Rockford, Illinois |title=Sears Centre offers variety of sporting events |url=http://rockrivertimes.com/2015/01/20/sears-centre-offers-variety-of-sporting-events/ |date=January 20, 2015 |access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014001048/http://rockrivertimes.com/2015/01/20/sears-centre-offers-variety-of-sporting-events/ |archive-date=October 14, 2015}}

History

File:Sears Centre Ice Surface.JPG

The venue was a joint venture between Sears Holdings, Ryan Companies, and the Village of Hoffman Estates.{{cite press release |author= |title='Sears Centre' Selected as Name for New Arena in Hoffman Estates |url=https://transformco.com/press-releases/pr/1206 |location=Hoffman Estates, Illinois |publisher=Sears, Roebuck and Co. |date=February 7, 2005 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220013145/https://transformco.com/press-releases/pr/1206 |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }} The project began in 1998; however, plans were not finalized until 2005.{{cite web |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/sears-story-day-4-centre |title=Sears Helped Build a Giant Entertainment Arena. Now, a Suburb Pays Millions to Keep It Running. |last1=Bernstein |first1=David |date=May 18, 2020 |website=ProPublica |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220012611/https://www.propublica.org/article/sears-story-day-4-centre |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }} Construction began in July 2005.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-07-20-0507200278-story.html |title=Groundbreaking is set for Sears Centre arena |last1=Meyer |first1=Cheryl |date=July 20, 2005 |website=Chicago Tribune |publisher=Tribune Company |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220010932/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-07-20-0507200278-story.html |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }} The venue opened as Sears Centre on October 26, 2006, with performances by Duran Duran{{cite web |url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/andy-taylor-exits-duran-duran-4316 |title=Andy Taylor Exits Duran Duran |author= |date=October 26, 2006 |website=Pollstar |access-date=December 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220031213/https://www.pollstar.com/article/andy-taylor-exits-duran-duran-4316 |archive-date=December 20, 2020}} and Bob Dylan.{{cite web |url=https://qctimes.com/news/local/entering-a-new-arena/article_d85f9551-53b1-54a1-aebf-8311d31afbce.html |title=Entering a new arena |last1=Burke |first1=David |date=October 20, 2006 |website=Quad-City Times |publisher=Lee Enterprises |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220031249/https://qctimes.com/news/local/entering-a-new-arena/article_d85f9551-53b1-54a1-aebf-8311d31afbce.html |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.dhbusinessledger.com/business/20181009/hoffman-estates-renews-naming-rights-for-sears-centre |title=Hoffman Estates renews naming rights for Sears Centre |last1=Peterson |first1=Eric |date=October 9, 2018 |website=Business Ledger |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220021549/https://www.dhbusinessledger.com/business/20181009/hoffman-estates-renews-naming-rights-for-sears-centre |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }} However, since the village took over the arena and hired Global Spectrum to manage it,{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100707/news/307079716/|title=Hoffman Estates adjusts to owning arena|work=Daily Herald|publisher=Paddock Publications|date=July 7, 2010|access-date=March 13, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220022206/https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100707/news/307079716/|archive-date=December 20, 2020|url-status=live}} the arena has shown improvement.{{cite web |url=http://saxo.dailyherald.com/article/20100608/News/306089871/ |title=Sears Centre shining for Hoffman Estates |work=Daily Herald |publisher=Paddock Publications |date=June 8, 2010 |access-date=March 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220022533/https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100608/news/306089871/ |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }}

The naming rights to the arena were not affected by Sears Holdings declaring bankruptcy in 2018,{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/15/business/sears-bankruptcy/index.html |title=Sears, the store that changed America, declares bankruptcy |last1=Isidore |first1=Chris |date=October 15, 2018 |website=CNN Business |publisher=Time Warner |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181016060623/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/business/sears-bankruptcy/index.html |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |url-status=live }} 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,{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sears-centre-arena-name-change-now-20200623-kuaavybzwvfmfdn753okeileii-story.html|title=Sears name disappearing from another Chicago-area building. Hoffman Estates arena gets a new name this fall.|first=Lauren|last=Zumbach|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 23, 2020|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220023252/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sears-centre-arena-name-change-now-20200623-kuaavybzwvfmfdn753okeileii-story.html|archive-date=December 20, 2020|url-status=live}} with the naming rights belonging to the NOW Health Group, a family-owned natural products manufacturer based in Bloomingdale, Illinois.{{cite web |url=https://www.daily-journal.com/business/now-health-group-to-take-over-naming-rights-to-sears-centre/article_14320262-ba40-11ea-87c5-436f305ab272.html#:~:text=NOW%20Health%20Group%2C%20a%20family,Hoffman%20Estates%20on%20June%2022. |title=NOW Health Group to take over naming rights to Sears Centre |author= |date=July 1, 2020 |website=Daily Journal |access-date=December 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220023559/https://www.daily-journal.com/business/now-health-group-to-take-over-naming-rights-to-sears-centre/article_14320262-ba40-11ea-87c5-436f305ab272.html#:~:text=NOW%20Health%20Group%2C%20a%20family,Hoffman%20Estates%20on%20June%2022. |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }} The name change would officially take effect on September 1, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200901/the-sears-centre-arena-has-a-new-name-today-the-now-arena |title=The Sears Centre Arena has a new name today: the Now Arena |last1=Peterson |first1=Eric |date=September 1, 2020 |website=Daily Herald |publisher=Paddock Publications |access-date=September 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201220010017/https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200901/the-sears-centre-arena-has-a-new-name-today-the-now-arena |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |url-status=live }}

Notable events

In 2008 and from 2010 until the present, the Illinois Recreational Cheerleading Association (IRCA) hold their annual state championship at the facility.
The fourth annual TNA Bound for Glory professional wrestling pay-per-view event on October 12, 2008, which was TNA's first ever event in the Chicago area.{{cite web|url=http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/357/84/|title=Bound For Glory 2008 In Chicago|date=2007-09-20|access-date=2008-06-09|publisher=TNAWrestling.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607071820/http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/357/84/ |archive-date = 2008-06-07}}
The arena was also the venue which featured TNA's first ever Impact Wrestling outside of Orlando, Florida, on March 14, 2013.
On May 19 and 20, 2011, it played host to the Chicago audition stages in the first season of the Fox singer search program The X Factor.
In 2009 and 2011, it played host to Strikeforce events.
September 12–14, 2014: Played host to the Davis Cup, hosting matches between the United States and Slovakia.
2014 Skate America
The 2017 and 2018 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern University's wrestling program, have been hosted at the Sears Centre.
September 1, 2018: All In, the largest ever independent professional wrestling event, presented by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks,{{cite web|url= http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/23583170/all-young-bucks-cody-rhodes-ready-sold-all-event|title= All In sellout a genuine surprise to Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks|date= 23 May 2018|access-date=August 18, 2018}} featuring wrestlers from various independent wrestling promotions and from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, including Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada. This event was considered the springboard for the creation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) several months later. In commemoration of All In a permanent plaque was installed near the front entrance of the arena.{{cite web |title=All In Venue Commemorates Event With a Plaque |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/all-in-venue-plaque-impact-replays-mondays-twitch-latest-nwa-video/}}
August 31, 2019: hosted AEW's inaugural All Out pay-per-view event, at which AEW crowned its first world champion.
November 27, 2019: hosted the first Thanksgiving Eve special episode of AEW Dynamite.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=238964 |title=AEW Dynamite #9 - Thanksgiving Eve 2019 |date= |last= |first= |work=Cagematch.net |access-date=November 20, 2024 }}
September 5, 2021: hosted AEW's third annual All Out pay-per-view event
September 4, 2022: hosted AEW's fourth annual All Out pay-per-view event.{{cite tweet|user=NOW_Arena|number=1399205968731426822|title=9/5/21 #ALLOUT|author=Now Arena|date=May 30, 2021|access-date=May 31, 2021}}
September 7, 2024: hosted AEW's sixth annual All Out pay-per-view event.

USA Gymnastics

2013 U.S. Challenge (July 26, 2013){{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=12598&prog=w|title=Kenlin, Shchennikova Win All-Around In The Hopes Division Of 2013 U.S. Challenge|access-date=July 2, 2014}}
2013 U.S. Classic (July 27, 2013){{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=12604&prog=w|title=Ross Wins All-Around At 2013 Secret U.S. Classic|access-date=July 2, 2014}}
2014 U.S. Classic (August 2, 2014){{cite web|url=http://www.secretclassic.com/2014/05/single-session-tickets-2014-secret-u-s-classic-go-sale-may-16/|title=Single-Session Tickets For 2014 Secret U.S. Classic Go On Sale May 16|date=14 May 2014|access-date=July 2, 2014}}
2015 U.S. Classic (July 25, 2015)
2017 U.S. Classic (July 29, 2017)
2023 U.S. Classic (August 4-5, 2023){{cite web |title=Ticket & Event Info |url=https://usagymclassic.com/info/ |website=U.S. Classic}}