New basketball arena for DePaul University is planned in Chicago

DePaul University and the city of Chicago have announced plans to build a 10,000-seat, multipurpose events center that will serve as the home for the school's basketball teams. The university says construction costs will be split between DePaul and the city's Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. The events center also will support other high-profile functions, including DePaul graduation ceremonies and special events, as well as city convention-related business. Construction on the facility is expected to begin in 2014, and the facility is projected to open in time for the 2016-2017 college basketball season.