Allstate Arena

Allstate Arena (originally Rosemont Horizon) is a multi-purpose arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

It is home to the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky of the WNBA.

It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and Interstate 90, adjacent to the city limits of Chicago and O'Hare International Airport.

History
The facility, originally named Rosemont Horizon, was intended to be the home of the WHA Chicago Cougars, but the franchise folded in 1975. The Village of Rosemont issued $19 million in bonds to finance the cost of the arena with exclusive contracts with Araserv, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and MFG International.

On August 13, 1979, the uncompleted roof of the Rosemont Horizon collapsed, killing five construction workers and injuring 16 others.

The Rosemont Horizon was featured in the 1985 music video "Big City Nights" by Scorpions.

Allstate Corporation signed a ten-year contract worth more than $10 million on June 9, 1999 to acquire naming rights to the arena and renovate it.

On December 14, 2003, the floor at the Allstate Arena was named Ray and Marge Meyer Court in honor of Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Meyer and his wife. Meyer coached DePaul's men's team for forty-three seasons and is the school's all-time winningest coach.

Sports
Allstate Arena is primarily known as the home of DePaul University men's basketball since the program's 74–56 win over Gonzaga on December 1, 1980. The Blue Demons previously played on campus at Alumni Hall. That gym has since been replaced with McGrath-Phillips Arena, the home to the women's basketball program. The building hosted the NCAA basketball tournament three times: the 1987 and 1993 Midwest Regional first and second round games, and the 2005 Chicago Regional Finals.

The Arena Football League also has a long history with Allstate Arena. The Horizon hosted an arena football test game in 1987 and the Chicago Bruisers were an original Arena Football League team when the league began in 1987. The Bruisers played from 1987 to 1989, and hosted ArenaBowl II in Rosemont, losing to the Detroit Drive, 24-13. In 2001, Arena Football returned to the arena with the Chicago Rush. The Rush increased its home attendance each year from 2001 to 2008, and from 2004 to 2008 averaged between 14,000 and 16,000 fans per game. The Rush's highest home attendance is 16,391 on June 23, 2007 against the Kansas City Brigade. After the AFL restructured in 2009, the Rush returned to the Arena Football League.

The Allstate Arena is also the standard venue when WWE visits Chicago. It is one of two venues (the other being Madison Square Garden) to host WrestleMania three times: namely part of WrestleMania 2 in 1986, WrestleMania 13 in 1997, and WrestleMania 22 in 2006. The venue also hosted Survivor Series 1989, Judgment Day: In Your House (1998), Backlash (2001), No Mercy 2007, Judgment Day 2009, Night of Champions 2010, Money in the Bank 2011 and Extreme Rules (2012).

When it was called Rosemont Horizon, the arena hosted Spring Stampede 1994. During the mid-1990s, Rosemont Horizon was the standard venue when WCW visited in Chicago; having replaced the UIC Pavilion, but was eventually dropped in favor of the United Center.

On October 25, 2008, the Allstate Arena hosted UFC 90, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event in the state of Illinois.

The Professional Bull Riders brought their Built Ford Tough Series tour for events in 2006 and 2008.

Allstate Arena is where the racing track style known as "Chicago-Style" (also known as roundy round and chase race) was created for Monster Truck Racing. It is the smallest arena however, than the track style is used in as well. Monster Jam is currently the only promotion company contracted at the venue for Monster Trucks.

The Chicago Sky of the WNBA announced on August 17, 2009 that the team reached a multi-year contract agreement with the arena. Loyola University Chicago also played its home games at the Rosemont Horizon in the 1990s, until the on campus Gentile Center was built.

During the 2012-2013 NHL Lockout, Allstate Arena was the site of the Champs for Charity Hockey Game where current and former Chicago Blackhawks hosted fellow NHLers infront of 10,000+ fans. The game is for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana