Not since 1997 has big basketball thundered through the courts of NEIU. That may soon change if an agreement goes through which would bring the American Basketball Association team the Chicago Rockstars to campus.
A deal is all but done that would have the Rockstars hosting their 16 home games at NEIU starting Nov. 10 for at least one year.
Peter Michalczyk, captain of NEIU’s baseball team, was pleased to see basketball on back on campus. “I think it’s wonderful. I hope the administration realizes that some of the student apathy would be combated with organized sports.”
Rockstars owner and CEO Marques Sullivan told the Independent that he had signed a deal with the university one week ago last Wednesday to rent the P.E. Complex for $2500 per night and use the 2200-seat venue for the games.
The team has been advertising the games on its Web site, and other media outlets have reported that the team will be playing at NEIU.
Director of Campus Recreation Matt Specht said that the final contract had not been signed. “If the insurance gets worked out, we’ve worked out all the rest of the other details as far as the contractual stuff.” Specht said that he was “pretty sure [the contract] will go through.”
Sullivan said that the contract “gives students a great opportunity for entertainment.”
When asked about discounted tickets for students, Sullivan said that the opening Nov. 10 game would be an NEIU appreciation night and that tickets would be half price.
On discounted tickets for the rest of the season for students, Specht said, “They’re going to get a discount one way or another. I’m committed to students getting in [at] half price. That will be what students pay out of pocket, discounted or subsidized [by the Campus Recreation Department.]”
Sullivan told the Independent that there also would be liquor sales at the games, a point Specht said is still being negotiated that is contingent on insurance.
Sullivan said this is the team’s first year, and that the ABA itself is only four years old. He added that attendance at games for other teams ranges between 1,000 and 4,000 people.
According to Specht, the team was initially slotted to play at Chicago State, but construction on their new sports facility fell behind, forcing the Rockstars to find a new home.
NEIU alumnus and Rockstars Assistant Head Coach George Keehn suggested NEIU and met with Specht.
Specht said that about $1,000 per night will go for labor and utilities, including extra security. Sullivan said that he would bring a team of five to 10 people for security.
Director of Public Safety Jim Lyon Jr. said that he would use overtime to have enough NEIU police officers for the games.