City Council Approves Fifth Third Arena Expansion In Near West Side

The Chicago City Council has approved the expansion of the Fifth Third Arena at 301 S Damen Avenue in the Near West Side. Replacing a vacant lot adjacent to the existing building, the new structure was approved by the Plan Commission earlier this year as well. The development comes directly from Chicago Blackhawks who are working with Kansas City-based Generator Studio on its design.

Site plan diagram of expanded Fifth Third Arena by Generator Studio

Rendering of expanded Fifth Third Arena by Generator Studio

Rising two stories and 52 feet in height, the 135,000-square-foot expansion is just the first phase of a multi-phase development planned for the massive site previously owned by Rush Hospital. Previous documents show that the team is exploring the idea of multiple high-rises with up to 1,200 residences and 600 hotel rooms, though no concrete details have been announced.

First floor plan of expanded Fifth Third Arena by Generator Studio

Inside the expansion will be two regulation-sized ice rinks with 300 seats and 1,500 seats respectively in order to host larger games and events. This will be joined by a large central lobby with training rooms, lockers, concessions, and other support rooms. It will be clad in a concrete panel facade with a glass storefront along the lobby, with some light landscaping leading to the adjacent parking lot.

Rendering of expanded Fifth Third Arena by Generator Studio

The parking lot itself will contain 219 vehicle spaces, but future visitors will have direct access to CTA bus service for Routes 50 and 126 as well as the CTA Blue Line at Illinois Medical District station. The approval allows for the building to move forward with a groundbreaking, which is expected to happen in the beginning of 2024 with a completion date in the first quarter of 2026.

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