History
The facility, originally named Rosemont Horizon, was intended to be the home of the WHA Chicago Cougars, but the franchise folded in 1975. The Village of Rosemont issued $19 million in bonds to finance the cost of the arena with exclusive contracts with Araserv, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and MFG International.
On August 13, 1979, the uncompleted roof of the Rosemont Horizon collapsed, killing five construction workers and injuring 16 others.
The Rosemont Horizon was featured in the 1985 music video "Big City Nights" by Scorpions.
Allstate Corporation signed a ten-year contract worth more than $10 million on June 9, 1999 to acquire naming rights to the arena and renovate it.
On December 14, 2003, the floor at the Allstate Arena was named Ray and Marge Meyer Court in honor of Basketball Hall of Famer Ray Meyer and his wife. Meyer coached DePaul's men's team for forty-three seasons and is the school's all-time winningest coach.
Read more about this topic: Allstate Arena
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“Social history might be defined negatively as the history of a people with the politics left out.”
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“The history of the world is the record of the weakness, frailty and death of public opinion.”
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902)