Sears Centre ahead of its time, and currently a sports death trap

July 9, 2:26 AMChicago Sports ExaminerCharlie Corr

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  The Sears Centre is not making money, so taxpayers beware.

In its three-year history, the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates has seen several sports teams come and go, and consequently the facility is not making money.

There is a good chance that taxpayers could foot the bill as the Village of Hoffman Estates recently stated that it could possibly take over the arena, located just off of the Jane Addams (I-90) and Route 59.

It is a shame that the sports and entertainment lineup has not reached expectations, because the Sears Centre is a wonderful facility, and there isn't a bad seat in the house. The problem is there have been too many empty seats among the 11,000-capacity facility, and too many empty dates.

In the short time the arena has existed, it has been a death trap for sports franchises. The Chicago Hounds hockey team lasted a year. (So much for their "Coming Spring 2009..." notice.) The Chicago Shamrox lacrosse team folded. The Chicago Storm soccer team is officially on hiatus for the next year. And the Chicago Slaughter just put together a perfect season and won a Continental Indoor Football League championship, but only a few thousand were on hand to witness it.

The country's economic state obviously is a factor toward the small crowds and short-term existence of some franchises. And it is a struggle for any full-time sports tenant that does not play for a mainstream, top-level league. But even with a budding economy, the Sears Centre was simply ahead of its time.

That particular location in the far northwest suburbs of Chicago needed to grow more. The businesses and housing are definitely popping up, but not to the point where several thousand people would flock there on a whim. Remember, it was not all that long ago when the land was the Poplar Creek Music Theater surrounded by a bunch of fields.

It's not the easiest facility to get to, either. Though it's right off of I-90, anyone traveling from Chicago knows they are in for a long ride as they trudge through traffic congestion. Potential fans located east of the arena, toward I-94, have to battle traffic lights on every East-West street.

And above all else, the Sears Centre has to compete with the Rosemont-based Allstate Arena, which houses bigger sporting staples such as the Chicago Wolves hockey team, DePaul Blue Demons basketball, and perhaps next year's return of the Chicago Rush if the Arena Football League makes any business progress.

If they could make a slightly larger clone of the Sears Centre, I'd ask them to plop that version over Allstate in a heartbeat. The Sears Centre is a polished facility.

But location-wise and timing-wise, this wasn't the best plan for any hopeful sports franchise. The Shamrox gave the impression that they were succeeding, but early on they were giving away tickets the way doctors hand out lollipops to a kid having a check-up.

Well-known entertainment acts have always succeeded there, but sports teams have a tough time trying to establish themselves at the arena. And what if the Rush return next year? What happens when a bulk of the Slaughter players (who were previously with the Rush) start going back to the AFL and back to the Allstate Arena?

When the economy improves and that particular area around Hoffman Estates continues to expand with more businesses, the Sears Centre could eventually prove to be a valuable commodity. But right now it's a troubling time, especially if that facility does not house several regular sports franchises.

Does the Sears Centre honestly want to rely on the upcoming Lingerie Football League and its Chicago Bliss this September and December as the biggest "sports" moneymaker?

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Send a message: E-mail your comments or thoughts to charliecorr@gmail.com.

Charlie Corr is a freelance sports writer based in Chicago. In addition to his Chicago Sports Examiner duties, he is the Major League Soccer Examiner and the creator of a Chicago-based soccer Web site, SlideTackles.net.

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