Public And Private And Empty

The convention business has been disappearing from Chicago, with competition from warm places like Orlando or Las Vegas siphoning off the dollars of free-spending business people. Naturally, the city would like that business back, along with the tax revenues that come with it.

The City Council could cut taxes on hotels, restaurants, taxi service, gasoline, etc. etc. so that those attending conventions would not feel like they are being robbed, and hope to attract the business folk again.

Not so easy to curtail union activity at the convention centers, unfortunately, where strict rules about who can do what drive up costs to set up displays for trade groups. Those same trade groups complain loudly, right before they make arrangement to open a show in Florida, but who wants to take on the unions?

Instead, the city would have you believe that they could win back the convention business if only the McCormick Place venue had a 12,000-seat stadium. There are religious groups who need large spaces like that and they'd flock to Chicago if only....

Stadium construction is an expensive proposition, so how about a public-private partnership to share the costs?

DePaul University has been making some noise about playing their basketball games in Chicago, closer to the actual university where the actual students might then be able to actually attend. The student body is largely absent from Allstate Arena, and the cavernous space echoes with the sounds of silence rather than rambunctious cheers. Not particularly appealing to a recruit looking to make his name and get noticed by the NBA scouts.

Something within walking distance of campus would be perfect, but land around campus is outrageously expensive, to say nothing of the cost of construction. A public-private partnership would be ideal for the university's plans.

In a miracle of synergy, the City of Chicago and DePaul University may be in line to join this wondrous partnership, with Chicago getting some help in paying for a new stadium and DePaul getting a new home court within the city limits.

A move to McCormick Place would ensure that even fewer current season ticket holders would continue to purchase tickets, with the new venue even more inconveniently located than Allstate Arena. The students would have to be dedicated power walkers to reach McCormick Place on foot, given the six mile distance. Most fans of DePaul basketball are scratching their heads, trying to figure out why the athletic department would think this would be of benefit to the program.

Chicago taxpayers are scratching their heads, wondering where the city is going to come up with millions of dollars to pay for the public portion of the partnership when the city is broke and can't keep its schools open or put enough policemen on the streets.

Not that the politicians pay them any mind. This is Chicago, after all, and it's how things are done.