Chicago Stadium

The Madhouse on Madison

Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago from 1929 to 1995, located at 1800 West Madison Street. When it was built, it was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls. It was used for numerous other sporting events, opening with a boxing match in March 1929. In sports, it gained the nickname, the "Madhouse on Madison", and a feature during events was the playing of the largest Barton pipe organ ever built. It also hosted four United States presidential nominating conventions, including for Franklin D. Roosevelt, and for his opponents in 1932 and 1944.

Quick Facts

Nickname: "The Madhouse on Madison"; "The House That Paddy Built"
Address: 1800 West Madison Street
City: Chicago, Illinois
Country: United States
Groundbreaking: July 2, 1928
Opened: March 28, 1929
Closed: September 9, 1994
Demolished: February–May 1995

Lore & Background

The Stadium was built by Paddy Harmon, a promoter, who sank his entire fortune into the project, only to lose control to the Stadium shareholders. After exiting receivership in 1935, the Stadium was owned by the Norris and Wirtz families until its closure in 1994 and demolition in 1995. It was replaced by the United Center built across the street, also owned substantially by the Wirtz family. The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929 to 1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967 to 1994. The arena was the site of the first NFL playoff game in 1932; the 1932, 1940, and 1944 Democratic National Conventions; and the 1932 and 1944 Republican National Conventions, as well as numerous concerts, rodeo competitions, boxing matches, political rallies, and plays.

Reader's Guide

The Stadium sat 17,317 for hockey at the time of closure, though standing room pushed the "actual" attendance beyond that figure. The official attendance figures in the published game summaries were often given in round numbers, such as 18,500 or 20,000. The largest recorded crowd for an NHL game at the stadium was 20,960 for a playoff game between the Blackhawks and Minnesota North Stars on April 10, 1982. The Stadium was also the first arena with an air conditioning system. However, the system was fairly rudimentary by modern standards, and was memorably given to filling the arena with fog during late-season basketball and hockey games. The Stadium also had no elevators.

Did You Know?

The Stadium's first event was a boxing match between Tommy Loughran and Mickey Walker.
The Barton pipe organ originally installed in Chicago Stadium boasted six manuals and over 800 stops, with thousands of pipes and percussions installed in the center ceiling.
During the 1973 Stanley Cup Final against Montreal, Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz had the horn of his yacht installed in the building, and had it sound after Blackhawks goals.
The dressing rooms at the Stadium were placed underneath the seats, and the cramped corridor that led to the ice, with its twenty-two steps, became the stuff of legend.

Frequently Asked Questions

What nickname did fans give Chicago Stadium?

Fans affectionately nicknamed the arena "The Madhouse on Madison" due to its intense atmosphere and location along Madison Street in Chicago.

How long was it the home of the Blackhawks?

The Blackhawks called this circular arena home for over six decades, spanning from its opening in 1929 until they moved to the United Center in 1994.

Which Stanley Cup championships were won at this venue?

During their tenure at this venue, the franchise secured four Stanley Cup victories in 1934, 1938, 1961, and 1962.

What happened to the building after the team left?

After closing its doors in 1994, the historic building was ultimately demolished the following year to make way for new development on Madison Street.