International Amphitheatre

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The International Amphitheatre was an indoor arena located in Chicago, Illinois. It was just west of Halsted Street, where 43rd Street T-ed into Halsted. It was adjacent to the Union Stock Yards, and was built in the 1930s after a 1920s fire had destroyed Dexter Park, a horse race track that had stood there for over 50 years. The western boundary of the site was called Dexter Park Street.

The arena, which seated 9,000, was the first home of the Chicago Packers of the NBA during 1961-62, before changing their name to the Chicago Zephyrs and moving to the Chicago Coliseum for their second season.^[1] It was also the home of the Chicago Bulls during their inaugural season of 1966-67; they also played only one game in the Chicago Coliseum, a playoff game in their first season, as no other arena was available for a game versus the St. Louis Hawks. Afterwards, the Bulls then moved permanently to Chicago Stadium, not the Coliseum.

It was also the primary home of the Chicago Cougars of the WHA from 1972-1975. It was originally intended to be only 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 had gone out of business.

The Amphitheatre hosted several national political conventions:

• 1952 Republican National Convention
• 1952 Democratic National Convention
• 1956 Democratic National Convention
• 1960 Republican National Convention
• 1968 Democratic National Convention

The 1968 convention was one of the most tumultuous political conventions in American history, marred by rioting stemming from anti-war protests. Prior to that, it was also noted for being the site of one of Elvis Presley's most notable concerts, in 1957, with the singer wearing his now legendary gold lame suit for the first time. Later, other superstars in the entertainment world such as Frank Sinatra, Liberace, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Van Halen, Tom Jones, Selena, Evel Knievel and Steve Martin also played the arena.

The original purpose of the building was to hold the International Livestock Exhibition. The Stock Yards closed in 1971, but the Amphitheatre stayed open, hosting rock concerts, college basketball and IHSA playoff games, circuses and other events. With more modern arenas becoming available in the Chicago area, the Amphitheatre's concert business dried up. The building was demolished in 1999. Currently, an Aramark Uniform Services plant is located on this site.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Chicago Encyclopedia Entry

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