It was an experience for sure. Other than sight-lines at places in the Mezzanine, most seats were good.

When I came home from college, me and some friends would often grab SRO seats in the second balcony. You could still see and the ticket ($8) was cheaper than a beer nowadays.

I remember sometime midway thru the second period there was usually standing water on the bathroom floors. I remember being there in the days when smoking was allowed inside the stadium and there being a haze of it in the air.

You couldn't beat the atmosphere and vibe as far as stadiums go though. Definitely fond memories of the old stadium.

It was kind of a poophole but also glorious at the same time if that makes sense.
- HawkintheD

I always remember during the playoff, Ron McLean would ask someone at ice level what the noise was like and he would have a graph of noise, i.e. a train, a full orchestra, a jet engine etc and he would have a decibel sound detector going off the scale.
Even with headphones on he was barely able to hear, said it was difficult to hear the whistle at times.

Sounds like an awesome arena!

Great 2nd balcony sight lines if you survived the climb, loud, loud, loud….
- StLBravesFan

I heard it had tiny little steps out of the dressing room, players had to tip toe up the stairs onto the ice.

Anyone ever been down in the dressing rooms?

The stadium was one of the greatest venues for hockey. Had season tix's for 15 years. Sat in second balcony. There were fights on and off the ice especially on Sunday nights after a Bears home game. Oh, and that wasn't water on the bathroom floors!

What was the old stadium like? I never made it out to it before they closed it down.
- SchwiftyHawk

The old stadium was a poophole, but there was absolutely no better place to watch a game. I had 2nd balcony season tickets, $7/ea. By the time they moved to the United Center they were $20. Used to go there for many Bulls games also, and standing room tickets were $6-8. Back of the second balcony was closer to the ice/court than the first row of the 300 level now. It really was just the ice/court and seats. Not much in the way of amenities (other than that great organ), bathrooms were old and small, only concourse was on the main level and was narrow, and there were only a few bad concession stands. 2nd Balcony had one concession stand on each side, thats it. Only way to the 1st or second balcony was steps, and a lot of them. For all its faults, the place was awesome. Also was the last of the "small" ice surfaces.

Was any one able to get to the other original six stadiums:
Maple Leaf Gardens, Madison Square Garden (the 3rd), Montreal Forum or the Detroit Olympia as a comparison to the Chicago Stadium?

Only made it to two, the Montreal Forum and Maple Leaf Gardens.

I heard it had tiny little steps out of the dressing room, players had to tip toe up the stairs onto the ice.

Anyone ever been down in the dressing rooms?
- SchwiftyHawk

Yes, was down there. Like any facility built in the 1920's there wasn't much thought given to the locker and dressing rooms. They had been retrofitted and improved over the years, but there wasn't a lot of options in a building with no space. They were small, dank, and to say the least there was a rodent problem down there. Since there was not a lot of room in the building, stuff was stored everywhere.

Here is one of the infamous staircases:
https://twitter.com/bulls...status/556158852438429697

I heard the old Detroit arena 'Olympia' had crazy steep stairs as well. Must be a thing with stadiums built in that era?

How was the pipe organ?
- SchwiftyHawk

Pipe organ was really loud too.
If I recall correctly, they moved it to the United Center.

Yes, was down there. Like any facility built in the 1920's there wasn't much thought given to the locker and dressing rooms. They had been retrofitted and improved over the years, but there wasn't a lot of options in a building with no space. They were small, dank, and to say the least there was a rodent problem down there. Since there was not a lot of room in the building, stuff was stored everywhere.

Here is one of the infamous staircases:
https://twitter.com/bulls...status/556158852438429697
- TheTrob

I think it was Gary Suter that they followed up the stairs during one of the playoffs with a camera and it was shocking how tiny and steep the stairs were.

Pipe organ was really loud too.
If I recall correctly, they moved it to the United Center.
- 35Tony0

Nope. Dismantled and the pipes and console were moved to an Ariz. warehouse. A fire a few years later melted/ruined most of the pipes but the console survived. The console is now in Vegas at the house of Phil Maloof.
http://theatreorgans.com/barton/

The stadium was one of the greatest venues for hockey. Had season tix's for 15 years. Sat in second balcony. There were fights on and off the ice especially on Sunday nights after a Bears home game. Oh, and that wasn't water on the bathroom floors!
- bjphawkfan

In the 70s, we had Bulls season tickets, first row second balcony, just off center court - 25 game plan (we chose the games) - $100 bucks total for the two of us. Cost more to park the car.

Great seats, fun Motta-Sloan-Walker-Love-VanLier-Boerwinkle-Ray teams.

Except when attendance was so bad that they shut the 2nd balcony and moved us down to 4th row in the 1st balcony. Bad seats.

Yes, was down there. Like any facility built in the 1920's there wasn't much thought given to the locker and dressing rooms. They had been retrofitted and improved over the years, but there wasn't a lot of options in a building with no space. They were small, dank, and to say the least there was a rodent problem down there. Since there was not a lot of room in the building, stuff was stored everywhere.

Here is one of the infamous staircases:
https://twitter.com/bulls...status/556158852438429697
- TheTrob

At least they didn’t shut off the heat and hot water to the visiting team’s room, like they did at the old Boston Garden.

At least, I don’t think they did.

Excited to watch the game tonight. Let's hope for a more solid start and a W.

Really wanting to see what some of the young guys bring as they get into the routine of this season.

Nope. Dismantled and the pipes and console were moved to an Ariz. warehouse. A fire a few years later melted/ruined most of the pipes but the console survived. The console is now in Vegas at the house of Phil Maloof.
http://theatreorgans.com/barton/
- TheTrob

I heard they digitized it for the new electronic organ for United Center, is that true?

At least they didn’t shut off the heat and hot water to the visiting team’s room, like they did at the old Boston Garden.

At least, I don’t think they did.
- StLBravesFan

That's classic! LoL

I heard early on when San Jose was first coming into the league and had a playoff series against Calgary, tricks were played like that. A trucking company found out which hotel the Sharks were staying at and surrounded the hotel with big rigs and honked their horns all night long.

Jones???

I see we're confused again
- BetweenTheDots

The Stadium was a pretty large part of my life as I spent a lot of time there from child to adult and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. Too many stories and memories, one of my favorite topics. But if I start we'll be here until breakfast. No place will ever duplicate the experiences in that barn or even come close. I would have wanted my ashes to be buried there some day if it was still standing.

The Stadium was a pretty large part of my life as I spent a lot of time there from child to adult and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. Too many stories and memories, one of my favorite topics. But if I start we'll be here until breakfast. No place will ever duplicate the experiences in that barn or even come close. I would have wanted my ashes to be buried there some day if it was still standing.
- 6628

I feel the same way about Fanny’s Restaurant in Evanston.

Nope. Dismantled and the pipes and console were moved to an Ariz. warehouse. A fire a few years later melted/ruined most of the pipes but the console survived. The console is now in Vegas at the house of Phil Maloof.
http://theatreorgans.com/barton/
- TheTrob

Glad it has been preserved. thanks for the article!

Found this video of an interview of the organist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1G-vicRfwo

Edit: found a few others
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBKYeuEjXjE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R6xR9XY6MA

The Stadium was a pretty large part of my life as I spent a lot of time there from child to adult and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. Too many stories and memories, one of my favorite topics. But if I start we'll be here until breakfast. No place will ever duplicate the experiences in that barn or even come close. I would have wanted my ashes to be buried there some day if it was still standing.
- 6628

Same here, but one of the best is finding out Wiz and my father having heavy hockey conversations between periods in the mezzanine hallways.

The Stadium was a pretty large part of my life as I spent a lot of time there from child to adult and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. Too many stories and memories, one of my favorite topics. But if I start we'll be here until breakfast. No place will ever duplicate the experiences in that barn or even come close. I would have wanted my ashes to be buried there some day if it was still standing.
- 6628

Any brief highlights that standout?

There's a you tube video out there that lasts about 5 minutes showing a brawl among the fans. The fight was so entertaining that play was stopped as the players watched the fisticuffs. Stadium security (probably off duty cops) finally got involved, clubbed a few heads and took the participants down to the lock up area. Someone probably spilled a beer on someone else precipitating things.

Colorado just recalled D Sikura. He’s good enough for the Avs but apparently not good enough for Stan. #ASF

Colorado just recalled D Sikura. He’s good enough for the Avs but apparently not good enough for Stan. #ASF
- DarthKane

Trading Sikura meant a second tour here for Pirri. Someday, Sikura will come back for his second tour. Patience.

Only ever been to the Stadium myself ... it was loud, but otoh --- about the same time, I'd also been to a Dio concert at the Aragon -and got a spot right next to the amps off the side of the stage ... it was I guess comparable ... and I never didn't come back from the Stadium hoarse and unable to talk for a couple of days... I guess I did my part.

Getting on Dino Cicarelli was one of my fondest memories. It was a crowd participation even.

Only ever been to the Stadium myself ... it was loud, but otoh --- about the same time, I'd also been to a Dio concert at the Aragon -and got a spot right next to the amps off the side of the stage ... it was I guess comparable ... and I never didn't come back from the Stadium hoarse and unable to talk for a couple of days... I guess I did my part.

Getting on Dino Cicarelli was one of my fondest memories. It was a crowd participation even.
- SC116

Dino sucks! Dino you MFer!