Chicago Bulls' D-League team finally has a name: Windy City Bulls
The era of the Hoffman Estates-based Windy City Bulls officially began Wednesday morning.
Representatives of the Chicago Bulls' new Development League team joined Bulls entertainers Benny the Bull and the Luvabulls to announce the team's name to a crowd of cheering students Wednesday at Eisenhower Junior High in Hoffman Estates.
Team officials made the final decision from among three finalists nominated by a "Name the Team" contest in the fall. The finalists were "Great Lakes Bulls," "Heartland Bulls" and "Windy City Bulls."
The name was revealed Wednesday as students and teachers at Eisenhower played a form of the "hangman" word game in which a correctly answered Bulls trivia question allowed for one guess at a letter in the name.
The new D-League team will play 24 home games during its inaugural season at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates from November 2016 through April 2017.
Though a number of minor league teams have come and gone from the Sears Centre over the past decade, the arena's General Manager Ben Gibbs said anyone would be shortsighted not to recognize what a difference a Chicago Bulls affiliate would be.
"The Bulls, as a sports organization, is world class," Gibbs said. "I don't think it's fair to anyone else to even pretend we can compare them."
Windy City Bulls' President Brad Seymour said the new team would be an extension of the Chicago Bulls brand, but also build its own identity.
"I think this is the start of some really good things," Seymour said. "Our core market is going to be the Northwest suburbs. I believe that's where the majority of people are going to come from."
The team's current lease at the Sears Centre is for five years with possible renewals for up to 15 more years. The arena also will house the team's front office.
Nearly 6,000 fans participated in the Name the Team contest, according to the organization.
"Windy City Bulls emerged as a fan favorite during our 'Name the Team' campaign earlier this season, and we thank the thousands of fans who helped us select a name that creates a strong connection to the region, reflects our civic pride, and extends the reach of the Bulls brand," Chicago Bulls President and COO Michael Reinsdorf said in a written statement Wednesday.
A Fan Fest will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway. The event will feature activities such as face painting, a mechanical bull ride, photos with the Bulls' six NBA Championship trophies, a meet-and-greet with Bulls ambassadors and entertainers, and a variety of basketball games.
Parking and admission for Fan Fest are free. Preregistration is preferred at www.bulls.com/dleague. By pre-registering, fans will have the opportunity to win exclusive autographed merchandise.