Bulls President & COO Michael Reinsdorf yesterday said that an NBA D-League team affiliated with his franchise "would bring to Hoffman Estates' Sears Centre Arena all the energetic promotion the parent team does to Chicago's United Center," according to Eric Peterson of the Chicago DAILY HERALD. Reinsdorf: "There's a lot of Chicago Bulls fans out here in the suburbs. We're going to treat this team the same way we treat the big-league team." Peterson reported Village of Hoffman Estates trustees "unanimously recommended approval of a lease agreement at the Sears Centre pending finalization of the details later this week." Hoffman Estates attorney Arthur Janura said that the only aspects of the agreement still incomplete "are the clauses regarding indemnity and insurance." Peterson noted trustees expect to get the finalized agreement tomorrow "in preparation for their vote on final approval next Monday." The pending lease "is for five years with the possibility of renewals for up to 15 more years." Under the lease agreement, the D-League team's front office "also would be housed at the Sears Centre." Reinsdorf said that the fledgling minor-league team "plans to hit the ground running, organizing a team-naming contest soon." He added that while the organization "prefers that the Bulls name be part of the D-League affiliate's, the rest would be up to the fans -- particularly the contest winner" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/3). In Chicago, K.C. Johnson noted the Bulls are "trying to establish a franchise" in the D-League beginning with the '16-17 season. Historically, the Bulls "have been averse to using the league, letting their affiliation with the Iowa Energy lapse years ago." But having a homegrown franchise in such close proximity to the parent NBA club "could allow for valuable game experience for young, untested players" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/31).
DIFFERENT THIS TIME: The DAILY HERALD's Peterson noted several minor league teams in a variety of sports "have come and gone from the Sears Centre in its nine years of operation." But Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod said that the Bulls affiliation "will make all the difference with this new franchise." McLeod said that the "high-profile nature of this team and the expected duration of the contract more than make up for the disappointment felt when the Sears Centre failed in its bid for a contract to host the Illinois High School Association boy's basketball state championship tournament earlier this year" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 10/31).
