Wirtz, Reinsdorf families plan $7B campus around United Center

Scions of Chicago families that have long owned the city’s NBA and NHL teams and their United Center home arena are set to announce a $7 billion transformation of the area surrounding the Near West Side venue.

The massive 10-year redevelopment, named the 1901 Project, envisions a mixed-use district that spans 55 acres. It includes a 6,000-seat music hall, a hotel, retail buildings, public open space, and thousands of apartments, the Sun-Times reported. Chicago Bulls President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf and Chicago Blackhawks Chairman Danny Wirtz are set to reveal their plans today, and they’re touting the project as the largest private investment in the city’s West Side.

The 14-million-square-foot proposal aims to turn the United Center into the centerpiece of a broader entertainment district. This aligns with trends in modern professional sports venues that encourage fans to arrive early and stay late, thereby creating year-round revenue opportunities. Similar transformations have been seen with Wrigley Field, and both the Chicago Bears and White Sox are pursuing comparable projects.

The announcement of the plan comes after entities tied to Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf were revealed to be behind $44 million in land purchases surrounding the United Center, and as the Wirtz family is advancing a 700-acre mixed-use development plan in north suburban Mundelein.

Reinsdorf and Wirtz describe the 1901 Project as a “catalytic development” poised to generate tax revenue and jobs for the surrounding neighborhood. Pending City Council approval, the first phase could commence as early as next spring.

“The 1901 Project represents a continuation of our families’ commitment to the future of Chicago’s West Side,” Reinsdorf said. “This investment will create a thriving, interconnected neighborhood, delivering significant benefits and resources to the community we have long called home.”

The plan builds on previous developments by the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families, including practice facilities for both franchises and an office building attached to the arena. Over the past decade, these efforts have begun to transform the Near West Side into a burgeoning sports campus. Recent zoning rights acquisitions hint at even larger-scale developments, such as 1,200 residential units and 663 hotel rooms as part of the Blackhawks’ ongoing expansion.

The project, comparable in size to the Lincoln Yards and 78 megaprojects, arrives amid a shrinking development chasm between downtown Chicago and the United Center. Apartment developments in the Fulton Market District and West Loop set the stage for a neighborhood anchored by the arena.

“We could help to transition those (development) opportunities and create some of them further to our west, and really be part of what we think would be a true renaissance of the West Side of Chicago,” said United Center COO Terry Savarise.

The first phase of the 1901 Project will feature a theater-style music hall and an elevated 2.5-acre park atop a structure that would include parking, an expanded loading dock and retail. Open spaces around the music venue and a mixed-use building with parking, retail and a hotel will also be part of this initial phase.

The project does not currently seek public financing, though partnerships for infrastructure updates and park space may be considered. Financing challenges exist due to high borrowing costs, but the built-in traffic from the United Center offers a substantial advantage.

The formal planned development application is expected to be submitted to the City Council in September. Alderman Walter Burnett expressed excitement for the investment, highlighting the often-overlooked West Side’s potential. “The United Center and its leadership team have been strong and trusted partners,” Burnett said. “I look forward to working alongside them to bring this project to life while listening and engaging with the community.”

— Sam Lounsberry

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