McCormick Place history

On January 3, 1971, the reconstructed McCormick Place opened, boasting a massive 300,000 square foot main exhibition hall.

The firm was later renamed Murphy/Jahn, with Jahn becoming its president and CEO in 1983.

Once per decade, starting in 1986, a succession of humungous new buildings were constructed across Lake Shore Drive from the Lakeside Center.

Restoration of Navy Pier is authorized by the Illinois General Assembly with a $150 million state bond issue.• Also in 1989, new plans to expand McCormick Place complex are approved by the MPEA board.

The South Building joined in 1997, while the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel was opened the following year.

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place opened in 1998.

The McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary was developed in 2003.

2005• In May, Navy Pier celebrates its 10th anniversary with special festivities and entertainment.• Also in May, the MPEA establishes the Labor Management Council to review issues related to cost, efficiency and the overall show experience.

In 2007, the West Building opened, adding a ballroom the size of a football field—one of the world’s largest—to the convention center complex.

2008• In June, major trade show contractors and the union representing the largest single group of workers on the trade show floor announced a new collective bargaining agreement designed to further reduce costs for McCormick Place exhibitors and provide them with greater operational flexibility

2010• In May, the Illinois General Assembly approves bold and historic legislation to reform labor rules, establish exhibitor rights and realign McCormick Place operations with its major competitors in the convention and trade show industries.

2011• April – MPEA selects the private convention venue management first, SMG, to run the daily operations of McCormick Place, starting July 1, 2011.

In 2012, McCormick Place hosted the NATO Summit, which was the largest gathering of world leaders in the United States since the formation of the United Nations after World War II.

2013• February – MPEA announces the development of a 1,200 room headquarters hotel to be built adjacent to McCormick Place.

2014• February – The MPEA announces the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place expansion has been awarded LEED® Gold certification.

2015• July – The MPEA along with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Marriott officials, and city and state officials break ground on the Marriott Marquis Chicago.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2017.• November – The MPEA along with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, DePaul officials and city and state officials break ground on the 10,000-seat McCormick Place Event Center.

2018• May – May 16, 2018 – Kerry James Marshall “Past Times” piece sells at auction for $21.1 million at Sotheby’s New York.

October 28 – United States President Donald Trump visits McCormick Place during the IACP 2019 – International Association of Chiefs of Police, the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders.

August 2020 – McCormick Place was one of the first convention centers in the country to announce it was pursuing GBAC STAR accreditation, the gold star for the industry.

October 17, 2021 – At the Wintrust Arena, the Chicago Sky win game 4 against the Phoenix Mercury to clinch the 2021 WNBA Finals.