 A postcard of the venue from 1953 | |
 Interactive map of International Amphitheatre | |
| Address | 4220South Halsted Street Chicago,Illinois 60609 United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°48′58″N87°38′46″W / 41.81611°N 87.64611°W /41.81611; -87.64611[1] |
| Owner | Union Stock Yard and Transit Company (until 1983) |
| Capacity | 9,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 1, 1934 (1934-12-01)[2] |
| Closed | 1999 |
| Demolished | August 3, 1999(began) |
| Construction cost | $1.5 million ($36.1 million in 2025 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Abraham Epstein[2][4] |
| Tenants | |
| Chicago American Gears (NBL/PBLA) (1944–1948) Chicago Packers (NBA) (1961–1962) Chicago Majors (ABL) (1961–1963) Chicago Bulls (NBA) (1966–1967) Chicago Cougars (WHA) (1972–1975) Chicago Sting (NASL) (1976) Loyola Ramblers basketball (NCAA D-I) (1987–1989) | |
TheInternational Amphitheatre was anindoor arena located inChicago,Illinois, that opened in 1934 and was demolished in 1999. It was located on the west side ofHalsted Street, at 42nd Street, on the city's south side, in theCanaryville neighborhood, adjacent to theUnion Stock Yards.
The Amphitheatre opened on November 30, 1934.[5] It was built for $1.5 million by the Stock Yard company principally to host the International Livestock Exhibition.[5][2] The arena replacedDexter Park, a horse track that stood on the site for over 50 years until destroyed by fire in 1934.[2] The completion of the Amphitheatre ushered in an era where Chicago reigned as a convention capital. In an era beforeair conditioning and space for press and broadcast media were commonplace, the International Amphitheatre was among the first arenas to be equipped with these innovations.
The Stock Yards closed in 1971, but the Amphitheatre continued to host[5] rock concerts, college basketball, local high school playoff games, circuses, religious gatherings, and other events.[5] However, the loss of conventions and trade shows to the modern and conveniently locatedMcCormick Place convention center in the 1960s and 1970s, started the Amphitheatre's decline, which increased as other convention and concert venues in the area drew events away. By the 1980s, the venue struggled to compete with such facilities asChicago Stadium, theRosemont Horizon, theArie Crown Theater, theAlpine Valley Music Theatre, theHoliday Star Theatre, theUIC Pavilion, and the renovatedChicago Theatre.[5]
In the late 1970s, developerHarry Chaddick proposed replacing the Amphitheatre with ashopping center, but these plans ended when MayorMichael Bilandic revoked his support after residents and political leaders in theCanaryville andBridgeport neighborhoods complained that such a development would lead to intense vehicular traffic as well as attract residents from nearbyChicago Housing Authority projects.[5]
After an automobile swap show in 1983, the venue closed. It was sold to new owners for $250,000 and sat dormant. For the next three years, plans were floated to convert it into asound stage.[5] But on November 28, 1987, the International Amphitheatre reopened with a game by theLoyola Ramblers college basketball team, who became full-time tenants after repairs and improvements were made.[5][6] A further $5 million renovation was planned, and it was intended that Loyola basketball would remain tenants for at least five years.[6] However, in 1989, Loyola moved to the Rosemont Horizon after the team drew as few as 500 spectators to its games at the Amphitheatre.[7]
The sprawling venue was difficult to maintain and struggled to attract enough events to pay for its upkeep. After passing through the hands of multiple owners, including the city, demolition commenced in August of 1999.[8] AnAramark Uniform Services plant is located on the site once occupied by the Amphitheatre. Part of the former convention hall extension still remains standing and is occupied by Lakeshore Beverage.
TheNorth American International Livestock Exposition was held at the arena until several years after theUnion Stock Yards closed in July 1971, when it relocated toLouisville,Kentucky.[5][2]
The Amphitheatre hosted several national American presidential nominating conventions, with an overall record of 1-4:
The1952 Republican National Convention had the distinction of being the first political convention broadcast live by television coast to coast, with special studio facilities provided for all the major networks.[9]
The1968 Democratic National Convention was one of the most tumultuous political conventions in American history, noted byanti-warprotests.
Televised boxing and wrestling were held at the venue for decades, making it well-known across the United States.[5] It was home to Chicago'swrestling scene into the 1980s,[10][8] and in 1981,Joe Frazier's final boxing match was at the Amphitheatre.
The arena seated 9,000 for sports and was the first home of theChicago Packers of theNBA in1961–62, before becoming theChicago Zephyrs and moving to theChicago Coliseum for their second season.[11] It was also the home of theChicago Bulls during their inaugural season in1966–67. The team played once time at the Chicago Coliseum, a playoff game in their first season, as no other arena was available for a date with theSt. Louis Hawks. The Bulls moved permanently to Chicago Stadium, where they remained until 1993, when they relocated to theUnited Center.
The Amphitheatre was also the primary home of theChicago Cougars of theWHA from1972 to1975. It was originally intended to be a temporary home for the Cougars, but the permanent solution, the Rosemont Horizon, was not completed until 1980, five years after the team folded and a year after the WHA ceased operation.
TheChicago Public League 1991 tournament at the Amphitheatre, won byMarshall High School, was featured in the documentary filmHoop Dreams.
Notable performers at the venue includedThe Rolling Stones,Frank Sinatra,Led Zeppelin,The Who,Pink Floyd,AC/DC,Black Sabbath,Rush,Santana,Ike & Tina Turner,Grateful Dead,Van Halen,Aerosmith, andThe Jackson 5.[5][12] The Amphitheatre is noted as the site of one ofElvis Presley’s most notable concerts, when the singer wore his legendary gold lamé suit for the first time, in 1957.[13] On September 5, 1964, and August 12, 1966,The Beatles performed at the Amphitheatre. The 1966 show was the first show of what proved to be theirlast tour.[14]
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| Preceded by first arena | Home of the Chicago Packers 1961–1962 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by first arena | Home of the Chicago Bulls 1966–1967 | Succeeded by |
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| G League affiliate | |
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| Franchise | |
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| G League affiliate | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
