DePaul University, seeking to continue upgrading their men’s basketball program has developed a strategic plan that involves building a new arena near the school’s Lincoln Park campus. The plan requires approval from the university’s board of trustees and will be on the agenda for their May meeting.

If approved it will allow the university to hire the necessary consultants to prepare a feasibility study, which is the first step in planning the construction of an arena that is expected to seat between 10,000-12,000 fans. There are two parcels of land that have long been rumored as potential sites for a new DePaul arena including the Finkl Steel property which is walking distance from the DePaul campus. Also on the potential list of sites is a property that has housed the Morton Salt Company on Elston Avenue near both the Kennedy Expressway and the Chicago River.

Under the leadership of school president -- the Reverend Dennis Holtschneider -- the university has set out an aggressive agenda of goals to improve all facets of the university’s infrastructure and has completed several extensive building projects to modernize and expand the campus. Since his inauguration in 2004, Holtschneider has led the successful completion of the university’s prior strategic plan as well as the creation of its current six-year plan, Vision twenty12.

Approval of the newest strategic plan is expected and with the university’s contract to play games at Allstate Arena only running through 2015 the school is highly motivated to advance this project forward in a very timely manner.

In addition, multiple sources with extensive knowledge of the university hierarchy’s thoughts confirmed to me that the school wants to make a renewed commitment to the city of Chicago. That would include the new arena and an even bigger effort to attract Chicago area basketball stars to return DePaul to what made it one of the nation’s top college programs from the late 1970’s through the mid 1990’s. At that time DePaul dominated the talent rich Chicago-area and had the nation’s #1 ranked program on multiple occasions.

When Westinghouse High School star Mark Aguirre who was the nation’s #1 ranked preps player chose DePaul it put the school on the basketball map and many connected with the school look at current Simeon star Jabari Parker, who is the USA’s top ranked player in the junior class as potentially the next Aguirre.

Which is less exciting; Northwestern basketball or DePaul basketball? Light em up, Chicago!

Our hotel smelled like dead hooker vagina (before you ask I had gotten a detailed description from beardown)

Which is less exciting; Northwestern basketball or DePaul basketball? Light em up, Chicago!

Well, this could be trouble for Illinois recruiting.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Why would this be trouble for Illinois? Haven't you been one of those saying that Chicago has never really been important to Illinois? Now if DePaul was building this in Peoria there might be problems...

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Why would this be trouble for Illinois? Haven't you been one of those saying that Chicago has never really been important to Illinois? Now if DePaul was building this in Peoria there might be problems...

DePaul could be a major factor again with a new arena. They used to be the biggest ticket in town for almost a decade - way more popular than the Bulls.

I don't think they could reach that level again. But, they could certainly be formidable if they can keep some of that Chicago talent in town. I think a new arena would accomplish that.

Also if you fuck someone like they are a millionaire they might go try to be one.