DePaul athletic director says new arena remains on track to open in 2 years

CHICAGO – DePaul's athletic director says a new arena remains on schedule to open in two years.

The arena on the city's near South Side is slated for completion in time for the 2016-17 season. In a "worst case" scenario, AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto says DePaul would have to play its first few home games on campus or at Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont, the primary home for men's basketball since 1980.

The 10,000-seat arena near McCormick Place will be owned and operated by the city, with DePaul contributing $70 toward construction. Ponsetto says construction will take about 22 months and she expects "a shovel in the ground" in early 2015.