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WNBA's Chicago Sky Moving Back To City

By DNAinfo Staff | July 26, 2017 8:40am
 Imani Boyette is one of the Chicago Sky's rising stars.
Imani Boyette is one of the Chicago Sky's rising stars.
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WNBA

DOWNTOWN — The Chicago Sky women's professional basketball team is coming back to the city after playing in the suburbs for the last few years.

The WNBA squad will reportedly play in the new arena being built near McCormick Place beginning next season. The Sky moved to Rosemont in 2010 from the University of Illinois Chicago.

The Sun-Times reported that on Tuesday the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority signed a five-year agreement with the team to play at the 10,000-seat stadium.

Crain's said the team will pay $161,500 a year for the regular season and $9,500 per playoff game. The team will be guaranteed at least $250,000 annually from arena sponsors, Crain's said.

 Inside the new Wintrust Arena at McCormick Place.
Wintrust Arena
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The Sky drew an average attendance of 7,009 per game last season, according to the Tribune.

Citing Nielsen survey data, the Tribune said just 0.8 percent of respondents in the Chicago market said they were "very" interested in the team and 66.1 percent say they had no interest. Some 97.6 percent said they have never been to a game.

The summer league team includes All-Stars Stefanie Dolson and Allie Quigley, a former DePaul player.

Adam Fox, president and CEO of the Chicago Sky, said being part of the South Loop was a draw.

"Having a chance now with the economic growth and what they're trying to do in that area, it gives us an opportunity to go back to the city and continue the growth we've had over the years," Fox told the Daily Herald.

"We love being in Rosemont, but there is a vibrancy in the city of Chicago. Combine that with a fantastic arena that is the perfect arena for us that seats 10,000 people. It's also got all the bells and whistles of an NBA arena. It's state of the art with layout, hospitality, technology, production. All things you'd love to have. This will be exciting," he told AP.

DePaul University's mens and womens teams will also play in the Wintrust Arena.