United Center opens with a grand gala inside — and protests outside
Here is an overview of what happened in the Chicago region on August 18, according to the tribune archives.
Does an important event lack this date? Send us an email.
Vintage editorial: a celebration of female suffrage: “It was a long and difficult fight”
Meteorological files (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
- High temperature: 98 degrees (1947)
- Low temperature: 49 degrees (1963)
- Precipitation: 2.85 inches (1990)
- Snowfall: None
1983: Arlington Park was sold to a group of four men led by Richard L. Duchossois.
Arlington International Racecourse: History of one of the “most beautiful racetracks in the world”
Duchossois took total control of the horse track after bought its partners in 1986.
1994: The United Center opened its doors with a ribbon cup ceremony followed by a black tie gala of $ 1,000 per plaque. Inside, the guests danced to the Dick Judson orchestra. Outside, nearly 1,000 demonstrators demanded more jobs and contracts for the National Democrat Convention held there two years later.
Chicago’s history to organize democratic and republican conventions dates back to 1860
The first event open to the public came 11 days later, and it was not a match of the Chicago Bulls or a Blackhawks match in Chicago. These are the stars of WWE, Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Lex Luger and The Undertaker, mixing him.
“Breaking the seal of this barn in doll was not the Rolling Stones, as rumeued originally, but rather the sophisticated artistic talent of the Summerslam ’94 of the World Wrestling Federation,” reported Le Tribune. “If the false action in the central ring became tedious, seated customers could wait for their time to count the logos of the United Airlines and listen to the opening strains of the Rhapsody in Blue ” from Gershwin each time a Crête drawer opened.”
2018: Sister Mary Jo Sobieck launched a first ceremonial throw for a perfect shot in the field after rebounding the ball of her biceps. Then, a teacher at Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights, the Sobieck field was captured on a baseball card, a Bobblehead and was even nominated for an ESPY prize.
How these Chicago nuns use sports to disseminate their service message: “ When we group together, we are powerful ”
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