Windy City Bulls invite ticket holders to court unveiling
A new $63,200 basketball court and logo was unveiled during a private event at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates Saturday, giving local sports fans a first glimpse at where a new NBA development team will be playing this fall.
The unveiling kicked off a weeklong series of private events to show off the new court and Windy City Bulls' logo to season ticket holders and corporate clients.
The Windy City Bulls are the official NBA development league affiliate of the Chicago Bulls. They have signed a 20-year lease to play at the village-owned arena, which will receive $1 million in upgrades before the basketball season starts.
"People are very excited because it's going to be a much more affordable option than going to see the Bulls in Chicago," said Mayor Bill McLeod. "It's a great venue and this is really a fan-friendly environment. The Bulls are really a world-class organization - they know how to put on a show."
Attendees at Saturday's event had a chance to shoot hoops on the court, purchase Windy City Bulls merchandise, meet former Chicago Bulls player Bill Wennington and take pictures with the team's six NBA championship trophies.
Joel Flores of Elgin and his family were among the estimated 250 season ticket holders in attendance.
"I think it looks great," he said. "They won the summer league, so I think there's a lot of anticipation from the younger players. I think they have a lot of potential to be a good team."
Tricia Gallagher of Schaumburg said her family is excited for the team's season to start in early November.
"We're big Bulls fans and we live about 15 minutes from here, so it's a great chance for us to come and watch basketball all the time," she said. "It's harder to get down to the United Center with our schedules."
Windy City Bulls President Brad Seymour said tickets cost about $20 per game, on average. Season tickets can be purchased for less than $400. The 50-game season will run from November to April and include more than 20 home games.
"The setup that we have here really creates an intimate environment," Seymour said. "You're really up close to the action and you're seeing players that are just one step below the NBA level."