Allstate Arena

The facility, originally named the Rosemont Horizon, was intended to be the home of the WHA Chicago Cougars, but the franchise folded in 1975. The Village of Rosemont issued $19 million in bonds to finance the cost of the arena with exclusive contracts with Araserv, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and MFG International.

On August 13, 1979, the uncompleted roof of the Rosemont Horizon collapsed, killing five construction workers and injuring 16 others. The roof, a wooden structure to insulate against noise from nearby O'Hare International Airport, was not properly constructed, and as the final beams were being put into place, a strong breeze blew the entire structure down. Over 53 percent of the required connection bolts were missing from the building's roof. 944 girder bolts required for the connections had already been installed, though only 444 were in place; of these, 338 had no nuts. Estimated damages caused by the collapse was $3 million. The roof was later rebuilt to specifications by a different contractor, and the arena was completed.

In 1999, Allstate Insurance Company paid $20 million to renovate it and gain its naming rights.

The arena is a Midwestern cornerstone for the WWE. It has hosted WrestleMania 2 and WrestleMania 13, and hosted WrestleMania 22 on April 2, 2006. It has also hosted Survivor Series 1989, WWE Judgment Day 1998, WWE Backlash 2001, and the very first WWF pay-per-view event, The Wrestling Classic. It will host WWE No Mercy in 2007. It also hosted the first WCW Spring Stampede in 1994. That same year it additionally hosted the Great Midwest Conference men’s basketball tournament. The building hosted the NCAA basketball tournament three times: the 1987 and 1993 Midwest Regional first and second round games, and the 2005 Chicago Regional Finals.