International Amphitheatre

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Lore & Background

Before the Bulls arrived in 1966, the International Amphitheatre had already hosted major national events, including five presidential nominating conventions between 1952 and 1968. Built to replace the Dexter Park horse track after a fire in 1934, it was one of the first arenas equipped with air conditioning and dedicated press facilities. When the Bulls played their inaugural season there in 1966–67, they utilized the venue's 9,000-seat capacity for basketball. The team played only once at another location during that first year: a playoff game against the St. Louis Hawks at the Chicago Coliseum because no other arena was available for the date. This single-season stint highlighted the Amphitheatre's role as a temporary but essential launchpad for the franchise before they moved to Chicago Stadium, where they remained until 1994.

In Their Own Story

The Bulls' time at the International Amphitheatre was defined by necessity and transition rather than long-term dominance. In 1966–67, the team called this livestock-turned-arena home for their entire regular season. The building's history as a hub for televised boxing and wrestling meant it was accustomed to high-energy crowds, though its primary function remained rooted in the agricultural shows that had defined Chicago for decades. The arena featured exposed steel and a layout designed for versatility, hosting everything from rock concerts by Led Zeppelin and The Beatles to college basketball games. For the Bulls, however, the arrangement was short-lived. After just one year, the franchise sought a more permanent solution, eventually settling at Chicago Stadium while the Amphitheatre continued to host other events like the Chicago Cougars of the WHA in the 1970s.

Reader's Guide

Visitors seeking the site of the Bulls' first home court will find that the International Amphitheatre no longer exists. The arena was demolished in August 1999, ending a 65-year run that began with its opening on November 30, 1934. Today, an Aramark Uniform Services plant occupies the land where the arena once stood on the west side of Halsted Street at 42nd Street. A portion of the former convention hall extension remains standing and is currently occupied by Lakeshore Beverage. While no physical structure marks the spot for basketball fans, the location in the Canaryville neighborhood near the old Union Stock Yards serves as a historical marker for where the Bulls began their journey in 1966.

Did You Know?

• The International Amphitheatre was built in 1934 to replace Dexter Park, a horse track destroyed by fire earlier that year.
• During the Bulls' inaugural 1966–67 season, they played only one game outside their home arena: a playoff matchup against the St. Louis Hawks at the Chicago Coliseum.
• The venue hosted five presidential nominating conventions between 1952 and 1968, including the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention.
• Before closing in 1987 for repairs, the arena had sat dormant for three years after a 1983 automobile swap show; it briefly reopened with Loyola Ramblers basketball games before closing permanently.
• The amphitheatre was among the first arenas to feature air conditioning and dedicated space for broadcast media when it opened.