Now Arena

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Multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S.

title: "Now Arena" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["hoffman-estates,-illinois", "2006-establishments-in-illinois", "basketball-venues-in-illinois", "event-venues-established-in-2006", "gymnastics-venues-in-illinois", "indoor-arenas-in-illinois", "ice-hockey-venues-in-illinois", "indoor-lacrosse-venues-in-the-united-states", "indoor-soccer-venues-in-illinois", "mixed-martial-arts-venues-in-illinois", "music-venues-in-illinois", "nba-g-league-venues", "tennis-venues-in-illinois", "windy-city-bulls", "wrestling-venues-in-illinois"] description: "Multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S." topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_Arena" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox venue"]

FieldValue
nameNow Arena
logo_imageFile:Now Arena logo.svg
imageSears Centre.JPG
image_size250px
captionExterior view of the arena (c. 2011)
pushpin_mapIllinois#USA
pushpin_map_captionLocation within Illinois##Location within the United States
pushpin_relief1
pushpin_labelNow Arena
mapframeno
former_namesSears Centre Arena (2006–2020)
address5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy
locationHoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S.
ownerVillage of Hoffman Estates
operatorSpectra
capacity10,543

| | broke_ground | | | opened | | | cost | $60 million ($ in dollars) | | architect | RoehrSchmitt | | project_manager | GTG Consultants | | structural_engineer | Needham DBS | | services_engineer | V3 Consultants | | general_contractor | Ryan Companies | | tenants | Chicago Hounds (UHL) (2006–07) Chicago Storm (MISL II/XSL) (2006–09) Chicago Shamrox (NLL) (2007–08) Chicago Slaughter (CIFL/IFL) (2007–13) Chicago Bliss (LFL) (2009–10, 2013–14, 2018–19) Chicago Outlaws (CILL) (2011–13) Chicago Express (ECHL) (2011–12) Chicago Soul FC (MISL III) (2012–13) Chicago Mustangs (MASL/M2) (2014–15, 2017-19) Windy City Bulls (NBAGL) (2016–present) | | website | | ::

| name = Now Arena | nickname = | logo_image = File:Now Arena logo.svg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Sears Centre.JPG | image_size = 250px | image_upright = | image_alt = | caption = Exterior view of the arena (c. 2011) | pushpin_map = Illinois#USA | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Illinois##Location within the United States | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_label = Now Arena | mapframe = no | fullname = | former_names = Sears Centre Arena (2006–2020) | address = 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy | location = Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. | public_transit = | parking = | owner = Village of Hoffman Estates | operator = Spectra | designation = | type = | event = | seating_type = | suites = | capacity = 10,543

| record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = | surface = | scoreboard = | screens = | current_use = | production = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | rebuilt = | years_active = | cost = $60 million ($ in dollars) | architect = RoehrSchmitt | builder = | project_manager = GTG Consultants | structural_engineer = Needham DBS | services_engineer = V3 Consultants | general_contractor = Ryan Companies | main_contractors = | tenants = Chicago Hounds (UHL) (2006–07) Chicago Storm (MISL II/XSL) (2006–09) Chicago Shamrox (NLL) (2007–08) Chicago Slaughter (CIFL/IFL) (2007–13) Chicago Bliss (LFL) (2009–10, 2013–14, 2018–19) Chicago Outlaws (CILL) (2011–13) Chicago Express (ECHL) (2011–12) Chicago Soul FC (MISL III) (2012–13) Chicago Mustangs (MASL/M2) (2014–15, 2017-19) Windy City Bulls (NBAGL) (2016–present) | website = | embedded =

The Now Arena (originally known as the Sears Centre, Sears Centre Arena and stylized as NOW Arena) is a multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb 25 mi from Chicago, near land which formerly contained the Poplar Creek Music Theater. Since 2016, the arena has been home to the Windy City Bulls, the Chicago Bulls' affiliate in the NBA G League.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Sears_Centre_Ice_Surface.JPG" caption="The ice surface set up for a hockey game"] ::

The venue was a joint venture between Sears Holdings, Ryan Companies, and the Village of Hoffman Estates. The project began in 1998; however, plans were not finalized until 2005. Construction began in July 2005. The venue opened as Sears Centre on October 26, 2006, with performances by Duran Duran and Bob Dylan.

In 2011, the Village of Hoffman Estates took over ownership of the arena after Ryan Companies walked away from the arena due to the arena's lack of success. However, since the village took over the arena and hired Global Spectrum to manage it, the arena has shown improvement.

The naming rights to the arena were not affected by Sears Holdings declaring bankruptcy in 2018, with the company paying $1.5 million to secure naming rights for an additional 18 months. On June 23, 2020, the Village of Hoffman Estates approved an $11.5 million deal to rename the venue to NOW Arena, with the naming rights belonging to the NOW Health Group, a family-owned natural products manufacturer based in Bloomingdale, Illinois. The name change would officially take effect on September 1, 2020.

Notable events

  • In 2008 and from 2010 until the present, the Illinois Recreational Cheerleading Association (IRCA) hold their annual state championship at the facility.
  • The fourth annual TNA Bound for Glory professional wrestling pay-per-view event on October 12, 2008, which was TNA's first ever event in the Chicago area.
  • The arena was also the venue which featured TNA's first ever Impact Wrestling outside of Orlando, Florida, on March 14, 2013.
  • On May 19 and 20, 2011, it played host to the Chicago audition stages in the first season of the Fox singer search program The X Factor.
  • In 2009 and 2011, it played host to Strikeforce events.
  • September 12–14, 2014: Played host to the Davis Cup, hosting matches between the United States and Slovakia.
  • 2014 Skate America
  • The 2017 and 2018 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern University's wrestling program, have been hosted at the Sears Centre.
  • September 1, 2018: All In, the largest ever independent professional wrestling event, presented by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks, featuring wrestlers from various independent wrestling promotions and from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, including Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada. This event was considered the springboard for the creation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) several months later. In commemoration of All In a permanent plaque was installed near the front entrance of the arena.
  • August 31, 2019: hosted AEW's inaugural All Out pay-per-view event, at which AEW crowned its first world champion.
  • November 27, 2019: hosted the first Thanksgiving Eve special episode of AEW Dynamite.
  • September 5, 2021: hosted AEW's third annual All Out pay-per-view event
  • September 4, 2022: hosted AEW's fourth annual All Out pay-per-view event.
  • September 7, 2024: hosted AEW's sixth annual All Out pay-per-view event.
  • December 27, 2025: hosted AEW's third annual Worlds End pay-per-view event.

USA Gymnastics

References

| title = Home of the Chicago Storm | years = 2006–2009 | before = UIC Pavilion | after = Chicago Sports Zone

References

  1. . (June 2019). ["Building Specifications"](https://www.nowarena.com/assets/documents/partials/site_assetdownload/mWnW9.pdf). *Sears Centre Arena Promoter Guide*.
  2. Halberstadt, Doug. (January 20, 2015). "Sears Centre offers variety of sporting events". [[Rock River Times]].
  3. . (February 7, 2005). ["'Sears Centre' Selected as Name for New Arena in Hoffman Estates"](https://transformco.com/press-releases/pr/1206). *[[Sears Holdings*.
  4. (May 18, 2020). "Sears Helped Build a Giant Entertainment Arena. Now, a Suburb Pays Millions to Keep It Running.".
  5. (July 20, 2005). "Groundbreaking is set for Sears Centre arena". [[Tribune Publishing.
  6. . (October 26, 2006). ["Andy Taylor Exits Duran Duran"](https://www.pollstar.com/article/andy-taylor-exits-duran-duran-4316).
  7. (October 20, 2006). "Entering a new arena". [[Lee Enterprises]].
  8. (October 9, 2018). "Hoffman Estates renews naming rights for Sears Centre".
  9. (July 7, 2010). "Hoffman Estates adjusts to owning arena". Paddock Publications.
  10. (June 8, 2010). "Sears Centre shining for Hoffman Estates". Paddock Publications.
  11. (October 15, 2018). "Sears, the store that changed America, declares bankruptcy". Time Warner.
  12. Zumbach, Lauren. (June 23, 2020). "Sears name disappearing from another Chicago-area building. Hoffman Estates arena gets a new name this fall.". [[Chicago Tribune]].
  13. . (July 1, 2020). ["NOW Health Group to take over naming rights to Sears Centre"](https://www.daily-journal.com/business/now-health-group-to-take-over-naming-rights-to-sears-centre/article_14320262-ba40-11ea-87c5-436f305ab272.html#:~:text=NOW%20Health%20Group%2C%20a%20family,Hoffman%20Estates%20on%20June%2022.).
  14. (September 1, 2020). "The Sears Centre Arena has a new name today: the Now Arena". Paddock Publications.
  15. (2007-09-20). "Bound For Glory 2008 In Chicago". TNAWrestling.com.
  16. (23 May 2018). "All In sellout a genuine surprise to Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks".
  17. "All In Venue Commemorates Event With a Plaque".
  18. "AEW Dynamite #9 - Thanksgiving Eve 2019". Cagematch.net.
  19. Now Arena. (May 30, 2021). "9/5/21 #ALLOUT".
  20. "Kenlin, Shchennikova Win All-Around In The Hopes Division Of 2013 U.S. Challenge".
  21. "Ross Wins All-Around At 2013 Secret U.S. Classic".
  22. (14 May 2014). "Single-Session Tickets For 2014 Secret U.S. Classic Go On Sale May 16".
  23. "Ticket & Event Info".
  24. (February 4, 2025). "2025 U.S. Classic returns to Chicagoland". [[USA Gymnastics]].

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

hoffman-estates,-illinois2006-establishments-in-illinoisbasketball-venues-in-illinoisevent-venues-established-in-2006gymnastics-venues-in-illinoisindoor-arenas-in-illinoisice-hockey-venues-in-illinoisindoor-lacrosse-venues-in-the-united-statesindoor-soccer-venues-in-illinoismixed-martial-arts-venues-in-illinoismusic-venues-in-illinoisnba-g-league-venuestennis-venues-in-illinoiswindy-city-bullswrestling-venues-in-illinois