Editing International Amphitheatre (section)

==History==
[[File:The maze of livestock pens and walkways at Chicago's stockyards, ca. 1947 - NARA - 541823.jpg|thumb|The Amphitheatre was adjacent to the Union Stock Yards]]

The venue opened on November 30, 1934.<ref name="Backc">{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Robert |title=Amphitheatre Comes Backc from Oblivion |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-11-27-8703290308-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=11 August 2022 |date=November 27, 1987}}</ref> It had been built for $1.5 million by the Stock Yard company and was principally built to host the International Livestock Exhibition.<ref name="Backc"/><ref name="aepstein"/> The arena replaced [[Dexter Park (Chicago)|Dexter Park]], a horse-racing track that had stood on the site for over 50 years until its destruction by fire on April 18, 1934.<ref name="aepstein"/> The completion of the Amphitheatre ushered in an era where Chicago reigned as a convention capital. In an era before [[air conditioning]] and space for the press and broadcast media were commonplace, the International Amphitheatre was among the first arenas to be equipped with these innovations.

The Stock Yards closed in 1971, but the Amphitheatre remained open,<ref name="Backc"/> hosting rock concerts, college basketball and [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] playoff games, circuses, religious gatherings, and other events.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} The shift of many conventions and trade shows to the more modern and more conveniently located lakefront [[McCormick Place]] convention center, during the 1960s and 1970s, began the International Amphitheatre's decline, which continued with the opening of other convention and concert venues in the suburbs drawing more events away. By the 1980s, the venue was struggling due to competition from large facilities such as the [[Chicago Stadium]], [[Rosemont Horizon]], [[Arie Crown Theater]], [[Alpine Valley Music Theatre]], [[Holiday Star Theatre]], [[UIC Pavilion]], and the renovated [[Chicago Theatre]].<ref name="Backc"/>

In the late 1970s, developer [[Harry Chaddick]] proposed replacing the arena with a large [[shopping center]], but these plans were killed after Mayor [[Michael A. Bilandic|Michael Bilandic]] revoked his support for the project after residents and politicians of the [[Canaryville]] and [[Bridgeport, Chicago|Bridgeport]] neighborhoods complained that such a development would attract both intense vehicular traffic and draw over the residents from nearby [[Chicago Housing Authority]] projects.<ref name="Backc"/>

After an automobile swap show in March 1983, the venue closed its doors. This was widely seen as an end for the venue. It was sold to new ownership for a mere $250,000 and sat dormant for three years. During plans were floated to convert the venue into a [[sound stage]].<ref name="Backc"/> However, on November 28, 1987, the International Amphitheatre reopened with a game by the [[Loyola Ramblers]] college basketball team, who became tenants of the reopened Amphitheatre. Some repairs and improvements had been made to the facility.<ref name="Backc"/><ref name="LoyolaOpener">{{cite web |last1=Hanley |first1=Reid |title=Loyola Wins Amphitheatre Opener |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-11-29-8703290884-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=11 August 2022 |date=November 29, 1987}}</ref> A greater $5 million renovation was planned at the time of its reopening, and it was intended that Loyola basketball would remain tenants of the venue for at least five years.<ref name="LoyolaOpener"/> However, for their 1989 season, Loyola had moved to the Rosemont Horizon after the Amphitheatre proved to be an unsatisfactory home venue to the team. The team had faced attendance as low as 500 spectators while playing at the facility.<ref name="Jauss1">{{cite web |last1=Jauss |first1=Bill |title=Rey's small Ramblers face a big challenge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/389402489 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=November 15, 1989}}</ref>

The sprawling venue was difficult to maintain and struggled to attract enough large events to pay for its own upkeep. It was eventually sold to promoters Cardenas & Fernandez and then the City of Chicago, which had no more success at attracting events than its previous owner. In August 1999, demolition of the International Amphitheatre began.<ref name=demo>{{cite news| title=Amphitheatre Gets Its Final Curtain Call| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/30/amphitheatre-gets-its-final-curtain-call/| work=Chicago Tribune| last=Boylan| first=Anthony Burke| date=May 30, 1999| access-date=2016-02-03}}</ref> An [[ARAMARK|Aramark]] Uniform Services plant is located on the site once occupied by the Amphitheatre.