{"id":155416,"date":"2025-08-18T09:54:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T09:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/155416\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T09:54:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T09:54:12","slug":"united-center-opens-with-a-grand-gala-inside-and-protests-outside","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/155416\/","title":{"rendered":"United Center opens with a grand gala inside \u2014 and protests outside"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 18, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n<p>Is an important event missing from this date? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/08\/18\/chicago-history-august-18\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"PEkikaEFLW\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2022\/05\/27\/vintage-editorial-a-celebration-of-womens-suffrage-it-has-been-a-long-fight-and-a-hard-one\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vintage editorial: A celebration of women\u2019s suffrage: \u2018It has been a long fight and a hard one\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Weather records <\/strong>(from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/wrh\/climate?wfo=lot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High temperature: <strong>98 degrees<\/strong> (1947)<\/li>\n<li>Low temperature: <strong>49 degrees<\/strong> (1963)<\/li>\n<li>Precipitation: <strong>2.85 inches<\/strong> (1990)<\/li>\n<li>Snowfall: <strong>None<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Arlington Park Race Track leaders from left: Sheldon Robbins, Joseph Joyce Jr. and Dick Duchossois on Aug. 18, 1983. (Phil Mascione\/Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"2850\" height=\"377\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CTHIST-robbins-obit-aj_229058045.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"26649651\" \/>Arlington Park Race Track leaders Sheldon Robbins, from left, Joseph Joyce Jr. and Dick Duchossois shake hands on Aug. 18, 1983. (Phil Mascione\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1983:<\/strong> Arlington Park was sold to a <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-joyce-group-takes-over-a\/178967983\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">four-man group<\/a> headed by Richard L. Duchossois.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"F2VRz1wDSQ\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2023\/05\/26\/arlington-international-racecourse-history-of-one-of-the-worlds-most-beautiful-racetracks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arlington International Racecourse: History of one of the \u2018world\u2019s most beautiful racetracks\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Duchossois assumed full control of the horse track after buying out his partners in 1986.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Police direct protesters on West Adams Street on Aug. 18, 1994, when about 1,000 demonstrated outside an opening event at the new United Center. Protesters wanted more jobs to go to minorities. (Chuck Berman\/Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"3827\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CTHIST-CTHIST-AFE-655-CT_Fb_226345407.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"26650457\" \/>Police direct protesters on West Adams Street on Aug. 18, 1994, when about 1,000 people demonstrated outside an opening event at the new United Center. Protesters wanted more jobs to go to minorities. (Chuck Berman\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1994:<\/strong> The United Center opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a $1,000-a-plate black-tie gala. Inside, the guests danced to the Dick Judson Orchestra. Outside, <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-united-center-opens-to-p\/178969420\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nearly 1,000 demonstrators<\/a> demanded more jobs and contracts for the Democratic National Convention to be held there two years later.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"q07BI69Y5j\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2023\/04\/11\/chicagos-history-with-hosting-democratic-and-republican-conventions-dates-back-to-1860\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chicago\u2019s history with hosting Democratic and Republican conventions dates back to 1860<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The first event open to the public came 11 days later, and it wasn\u2019t a Chicago Bulls or a Chicago Blackhawks game. It was the WWE\u2019s stars Bret \u201cHit Man\u201d Hart, Lex Luger and the Undertaker mixing it up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBreaking the seal on this dolled-up barn was not the Rolling Stones, as originally rumored, but rather the sophisticated artistry of the World Wrestling Federation\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwe.com\/shows\/summerslam\/1994\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SummerSlam \u201994<\/a>,\u201d the Tribune reported. \u201cIf the faux action in the center ring became tedious, seated patrons could bide their time counting United Airlines logos and listening for the opening strains of Gershwin\u2019s \u2018Rhapsody in Blue\u2019 every time a cash register drawer opened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Sister Mary Jo Sobieck throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 18, 2018, in Chicago. (Nam Y. Huh\/AP)\" width=\"2668\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-AP-SISTER-MARY-JO-SOBIECK-PITCH-2018-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"26650008\" \/>Sister Mary Jo Sobieck throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 18, 2018, in Chicago. (Nam Y. Huh\/AP)<\/p>\n<p><strong>2018:<\/strong> Sister Mary Jo Sobieck threw a ceremonial first pitch for a perfect strike at Rate Field after bouncing the ball off her bicep. Then a teacher at Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights, Sobieck\u2019s pitch was captured on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2019\/04\/08\/marian-catholics-sister-mary-jo-gets-her-own-topps-trading-card\/\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2019\/04\/08\/marian-catholics-sister-mary-jo-gets-her-own-topps-trading-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">baseball card<\/a>, a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2018\/08\/20\/sister-mary-jo-she-of-the-viral-ceremonial-first-pitch-now-has-her-own-bobblehead\/\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2018\/08\/20\/sister-mary-jo-she-of-the-viral-ceremonial-first-pitch-now-has-her-own-bobblehead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bobblehead<\/a> and was even nominated for an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2019\/06\/19\/sister-mary-jo-sobiecks-viral-white-sox-pitch-is-up-for-an-espy\/\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2019\/06\/19\/sister-mary-jo-sobiecks-viral-white-sox-pitch-is-up-for-an-espy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPY Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ebQ744ph0O\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/06\/13\/chicago-nuns-white-sox-pope-leo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How these Chicago nuns use sports to spread their message of service: \u2018When we band together, we\u2019re powerful\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe to the free\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\">Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\">Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/tag\/chicago-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n<p>Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/08\/18\/chicago-history-august-18\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/08\/18\/chicago-history-august-18\/mailto:mmather@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 18, according to the Tribune\u2019s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":155417,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[90702,8978,90701,960,6387,90704,5386,1818,90703,5235,59706,8117,188,60443],"class_list":{"0":"post-155416","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-19th-amendment","9":"tag-arlington-park","10":"tag-august-18","11":"tag-chicago","12":"tag-chicago-history","13":"tag-duchossois","14":"tag-il","15":"tag-illinois","16":"tag-suffrage","17":"tag-summerslam","18":"tag-united-center","19":"tag-wrestling","20":"tag-wwe","21":"tag-wwf"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115049166634302010","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}