The Big Ten Network choose the historic Montgomery Ward building located in Chicago's Near North neighborhood for its headquarters. The announcement was made at a press conference at the site by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin, Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delaney, Fox Sports Networks President Bob Thompson and Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman.
The Big Ten Network studios is located in a 44,000 square-foot office space at 600 West Chicago, formerly the Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalog House. The original section of the building was designated as a national historic landmark in 2000 for its significant role in American retail history. The space includes two studios and three control rooms as well as a 20,000 square-foot office space.
"It is fitting that the Big Ten Network, a channel dedicated exclusively to collegiate athletics and university life, will make its home in Chicago, a city that is so passionate about college sports and education," said Delaney.
"Like our Olympic bid, the launch of this network in Chicago is one more indication of Chicago's long-term commitment to amateur and Olympic sports," said Mayor Daley. "We love athletics at every level, and that includes the Big Ten. Chicago is filled with Big Ten graduates. If you walk through many of our neighborhoods on a Saturday afternoon in the fall, you'll see banners of Big Ten schools hanging on front porches and apartment windows."
The Governor and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity provided a nearly $3.2 million business investment package to support the Big Ten Network.
"Chicago is the country's third largest media market, and the largest market in the Big Ten footprint," said Thompson. "It's centrally located to the Big Ten's 11 member institutions, and they'll all be involved in the network's rich programming content, be it sports- or institutionally-related."
"The space that the Big Ten Network will occupy in the former Montgomery Ward building is perfect for our office and studio needs," added Silverman. "The production facilities we plan to construct will be state-of-the-art, and we're looking forward to building-out the space immediately so it will be completed well in advance of our August launch."
The Big Ten Network will carry many of the games and events previously available only through syndication, providing greater exposure for these and other Big Ten sports.
The real estate agreement was negotiated by Robert Sevim, David Gordon, Kelly Givins with Studley Inc. on behalf of the Big Ten Network and Brad Despot and Gary Kostecki with Jones Lang LaSalle on behalf of the building ownership group of Taconic Investment Partners, Angelo Gordon & Co., Centrum Properties and Amerimar Enterprises. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
