DePaul University Athletics
New Arena Will Elevate Women's College Basketball
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | ATHLETICS
Nov. 19, 2015 For more information: HomeCourtChicago.com
Events Center Time Lapse Cameras: Watch the Construction Live
CHICAGO - In addition to being one of the top women's basketball coaches in the country, DePaul's Doug Bruno is a passionate advocate of the sport and always searching for ways to grow the game.
Whether it's lending his considerable influence to a marketing or promotional campaign, helping to educate youngsters at his renowned basketball camp or accommodating the media as well as any coach in America, Bruno is totally devoted to spreading awareness about the game he loves.
You can imagine his sense of anticipation and excitement as the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new McCormick Place Event Center and 10,000-seat basketball arena got underway on Monday.
Between now and the Event Center's opening for the 2017-18 season, Bruno will be busy thinking of ways to promote women's basketball to a larger audience.
"On behalf of DePaul women's basketball, we are thrilled about the new Event Center," Bruno said. "Having been a proponent of promoting women's basketball my entire coaching life, we now have a unique opportunity to grow the game with the new arena.
"It's my vision to someday see intercollegiate women's basketball attain a higher status and priority on our nation's sports scene and get people to recognize and appreciate the beauty of this game.
"We love playing on campus at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Our women's basketball team provides the campus with an excellent collegiate sports dynamic for DePaul students and fans that come to our games in Lincoln Park.
"My vision is to see DePaul outgrow Lincoln Park for the big games. That will give us an opportunity to play those games at the Event Center and have the space to sell 10,000 tickets.
"That's what I believe in. I truly believe it can and will happen."
Bruno realizes that above all else, winning teams attract a following. Fans want to share in a program's success and identify with a winner. The greater the success, the more pronounced the bandwagon effect.
Bruno's Blue Demons have earned a berth in 13 consecutive NCAA tournaments and have advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 three times. The only other programs who can make that claim are women's college basketball's elite of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Stanford, Tennessee, Duke and Oklahoma.
The numbers are glowing. DePaul has won 20 or more games in 12 of the last 13 seasons for a record of 310-121. That's a winning percentage of 72 percent.
In the last four years, the Blue Demons are an even more impressive 106-34---winning 76 percent of the time.
"We're doing a good job attracting fans right now," Bruno said. "I'd like to see us attract even more fans and begin drawing more extensive media coverage.
"Winning basketball helps to grow the game in Chicago. We have to continue being successful at the pace we've been at and continue to schedule great opponents. You want to educate sports fans and elevate the game so they will enjoy watching women play basketball."
The media-savvy Bruno knows that establishing a winning legacy in women's basketball is just a starting point.
"Media coverage is the key to growing the game," Bruno said. "Having our games televised on the BIG EAST Digital Network and Comcast SportsNet Plus is very helpful. The digital age of TV is coming, and all the people who have access to the BIG EAST Digital Network can watch us.
"There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new arena. We will be able to showcase a facility that is equal to any in the country. I know our fans will be fired up to watch college basketball in the South Loop."
Bruno also foresees that community becoming a tourist attraction and destination point.
"It will become a major attraction as the South Loop transforms into a huge entertainment district," Bruno said. "Coming to the Event Center will be like a big night out in Chicago. There's going to be much more than just the games. It's going to also feature terrific nightlife with nearby restaurants and bars.
"The South Loop is a can't-miss proposition because of its proximity to McCormick Place and the vibrancy of the new building that will also be able to host mid-size conventions.
"It's a great location for the Event Center which is easily accessible from the south, west and north suburbs and all points in the city. It will be easy to reach by public transportation."
Bruno's mission is to not only win a lot of games, but to also produce a highly entertaining product.
"It's always a good time to watch our 'DePaulBall' style of play," Bruno said. "It's a fast-paced, full-court pressing, high-scoring game that has attained national recognition."
Guess who would love to someday have folks from other regions of the country think of 'DePaulBall' as Chicago-style women's basketball---giving the Blue Demons an iconic identity like Chicago-style hot dogs and Chicago-style pizza.
"That would be great," Bruno said with a smile. "Fans in Lincoln Park have come to enjoy and appreciate our playing style over the years, and now we are going to bring that up-tempo pace to the South Loop so that fans over there and from all over the city can catch the fever of 'DePaulBall.'"
-----
The 2015-16 DePaul women's basketball tickets are on sale now at www.depaulbluedemons.com/tickets. Join in and be part of the BIG EAST action all season long at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Flexible mini packages including the PICK 6 and UConn+1 as well as group ticket offers are also available for purchase and feature great savings off of single game ticket rates. Call the DePaul ticket office at (773) 325-SLAM (7526) and speak with a ticket representative to learn more about joining the excitement of DePaul athletics.
Events Center Time Lapse Cameras: Watch the Construction Live
CHICAGO - In addition to being one of the top women's basketball coaches in the country, DePaul's Doug Bruno is a passionate advocate of the sport and always searching for ways to grow the game.
Whether it's lending his considerable influence to a marketing or promotional campaign, helping to educate youngsters at his renowned basketball camp or accommodating the media as well as any coach in America, Bruno is totally devoted to spreading awareness about the game he loves.
You can imagine his sense of anticipation and excitement as the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new McCormick Place Event Center and 10,000-seat basketball arena got underway on Monday.
Between now and the Event Center's opening for the 2017-18 season, Bruno will be busy thinking of ways to promote women's basketball to a larger audience.
"On behalf of DePaul women's basketball, we are thrilled about the new Event Center," Bruno said. "Having been a proponent of promoting women's basketball my entire coaching life, we now have a unique opportunity to grow the game with the new arena.
"It's my vision to someday see intercollegiate women's basketball attain a higher status and priority on our nation's sports scene and get people to recognize and appreciate the beauty of this game.
"We love playing on campus at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Our women's basketball team provides the campus with an excellent collegiate sports dynamic for DePaul students and fans that come to our games in Lincoln Park.
"My vision is to see DePaul outgrow Lincoln Park for the big games. That will give us an opportunity to play those games at the Event Center and have the space to sell 10,000 tickets.
"That's what I believe in. I truly believe it can and will happen."
Bruno realizes that above all else, winning teams attract a following. Fans want to share in a program's success and identify with a winner. The greater the success, the more pronounced the bandwagon effect.
Bruno's Blue Demons have earned a berth in 13 consecutive NCAA tournaments and have advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 three times. The only other programs who can make that claim are women's college basketball's elite of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Stanford, Tennessee, Duke and Oklahoma.
The numbers are glowing. DePaul has won 20 or more games in 12 of the last 13 seasons for a record of 310-121. That's a winning percentage of 72 percent.
In the last four years, the Blue Demons are an even more impressive 106-34---winning 76 percent of the time.
"We're doing a good job attracting fans right now," Bruno said. "I'd like to see us attract even more fans and begin drawing more extensive media coverage.
"Winning basketball helps to grow the game in Chicago. We have to continue being successful at the pace we've been at and continue to schedule great opponents. You want to educate sports fans and elevate the game so they will enjoy watching women play basketball."
The media-savvy Bruno knows that establishing a winning legacy in women's basketball is just a starting point.
"Media coverage is the key to growing the game," Bruno said. "Having our games televised on the BIG EAST Digital Network and Comcast SportsNet Plus is very helpful. The digital age of TV is coming, and all the people who have access to the BIG EAST Digital Network can watch us.
"There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new arena. We will be able to showcase a facility that is equal to any in the country. I know our fans will be fired up to watch college basketball in the South Loop."
Bruno also foresees that community becoming a tourist attraction and destination point.
"It will become a major attraction as the South Loop transforms into a huge entertainment district," Bruno said. "Coming to the Event Center will be like a big night out in Chicago. There's going to be much more than just the games. It's going to also feature terrific nightlife with nearby restaurants and bars.
"The South Loop is a can't-miss proposition because of its proximity to McCormick Place and the vibrancy of the new building that will also be able to host mid-size conventions.
"It's a great location for the Event Center which is easily accessible from the south, west and north suburbs and all points in the city. It will be easy to reach by public transportation."
Bruno's mission is to not only win a lot of games, but to also produce a highly entertaining product.
"It's always a good time to watch our 'DePaulBall' style of play," Bruno said. "It's a fast-paced, full-court pressing, high-scoring game that has attained national recognition."
Guess who would love to someday have folks from other regions of the country think of 'DePaulBall' as Chicago-style women's basketball---giving the Blue Demons an iconic identity like Chicago-style hot dogs and Chicago-style pizza.
"That would be great," Bruno said with a smile. "Fans in Lincoln Park have come to enjoy and appreciate our playing style over the years, and now we are going to bring that up-tempo pace to the South Loop so that fans over there and from all over the city can catch the fever of 'DePaulBall.'"
-----
The 2015-16 DePaul women's basketball tickets are on sale now at www.depaulbluedemons.com/tickets. Join in and be part of the BIG EAST action all season long at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Flexible mini packages including the PICK 6 and UConn+1 as well as group ticket offers are also available for purchase and feature great savings off of single game ticket rates. Call the DePaul ticket office at (773) 325-SLAM (7526) and speak with a ticket representative to learn more about joining the excitement of DePaul athletics.
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