DePaul University’s basketball team is looking to make a comeback, heading from Rosemont to the city of Chicago, and their target has apparently shifted from the North Side to a couple of locations further south and west.

DePaul’s basketball team moved to suburban Rosemont in the mid-1980s, but the school recently said it wants to move its team back to the city. In theory, having an arena closer to campus and in a prominent location would make it easier to recruit top talent to the school.

Originally, the school was rumored to be scouting several spots near its Lincoln Park campus, including the A. Finkl & Sons steel mill, the Morton Salt Company facility, and a parking lot at the intersection of Fullerton and Sheffield.

But according to reports in Crain’s Chicago Business and the Chicago Sun-Times, DePaul’s search has broadened lately, and they’ve been scouting spots Near McCormick Place and exploring a partnership with the United Center.

The first story, from Sun-Times gossip columnist Michael Sneed, said DePaul was discussing the possibility of sharing the United Center’s court as well as its new practice facility, which is rumored to be replacing one of the arena’s many parking lots.

But a follow-up story from Greg Hinz with Crain’s reported that Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pushing the team to build a new stadium near McCormick Place, in a bid to liven up the neighborhood and the proposed Motor Row entertainment district when the convention center is empty. Those discussions, Hinz said, are more serious than those with the United Center.

Emanuel touted a series of improvements to the South Loop and Near South Side on Friday, making use of a bundle of TIF cash.

Guy Chipparoni, a spokesman for the United Center, said in an emailed statement that the arena’s ownership is interested in working with DePaul.

“We agree with Mayor Emanuel’s idea to bring DePaul basketball back to Chicago, just like the Bulls practice facility, would be good for the city, and the United Center is prepared to explore this with DePaul,” Chipparoni said.

In a statement to Hinz, DePaul said they’re looking at everything on the table at this point.

“As noted in our strategic plan V2018, one of DePaul's goals is to seek opportunities to bring men's basketball back into the city. To that end, DePaul will consider any proposal that will help us accomplish that goal. As of how, however, nothing definitive has been forthcoming.”

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By DePaul Fan from Near South
Posted: 10/17/2012 11:56 PM

My son valued the diversity that DePaul offered.

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By Zoe from West Loop
Posted: 10/17/2012 9:14 PM

To DePaul Fan: Did I miss something? Why the mention of race?

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By Grandma from Douglas
Posted: 10/16/2012 5:03 PM

My youngest son attends DePaul and worked at Baxter during the summer in Water Management. His minor is Environmental Science.

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By Depaul Fan from Near South
Posted: 10/16/2012 3:33 PM

My son graduated from DePaul and got a professional position in IT immediately after graduation. DePaul is 61% Caucasian: These students come from all 50 states and 101 countries. 45% from the surrounding suburbs 30% from the city of Chicago 23% from out-of-state and international locations 3% from other locations in Illinois

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By Boyee from Bloomingdale
Posted: 10/16/2012 1:42 PM

David from Near West Side- DePaul has over 25,000 students and just opened a new academic building and are planning on starting to build the new music school next Autumn and the new Theatre School building will be complete in September 2013. If that is not trying to make sure its academic departments have up to date buildings, I do not know what is

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By Roger from South Loop
Posted: 10/11/2012 12:35 PM

Sam, you are right to question public transit access for any new stadium. None of the sites mentioned has good transit access. The City is building a Green Line station at Cermak/State which will greatly improve rapid transit access to McCormick Place and Motor Row. A UC station at Madison/Paulina (Pink Line only) does not appear to be on the City's radar. FYI, that new Cermak/State station is estimated to cost more than twice the ridiculous amount the City paid to build Morgan/Lake.

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By Daisy from West Side
Posted: 10/04/2012 10:05 PM

If its McCormick Place, I hope they get rid of that Arie Crown Theater. The way to get there by car or public transportion is awful.

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By David from Near West Side
Posted: 10/04/2012 10:45 AM

Note to Tim from NW Suburbs: Fullerton and Sheffield is a pipe dream. . It will change if the alderman and the community really wants it. Note to Same from the Far West Side: That is one of the questions with the UC new construction project and now, the possible DePaul deal. Very overdue in my opinion. Robert from the S. Loop: I agree about the academic department. Last time I heard anyone going or graduating from DePaul was back in 1990s.

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By Robert from S. Loop
Posted: 10/03/2012 7:56 AM

Perhaps DePaul should spend that cash they have designated for a new stadium venue on their shoddy academic departments instead. Perhaps that might recruit more talent? Their academics are sliding them into a third rate institution with a bunch of barely literate basketball players. I don't want them in the South Loop.

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By Sam from Far West Side
Posted: 10/02/2012 10:13 AM

The other key issue that DePaul should be looking at is an area near public transportation like UC, Solider Field, and Cellular Field. Question: If DePaul does decides on the UC, will that help put a Pink and Green line stops on Madison Street.

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By Tim from NW Suburbs
Posted: 10/02/2012 0:46 AM

It would be sweet to have either, but a site near McCormick Place would be easier to get to. The Little Sisters of the Poor site would be excellent also. Sheffield and Fullerton is a pipe dream.