Wintrust Arena Bag Policy ft Barstool Invitational 2023

The arena prohibits purses, containers, or bags larger in size than a small clutch bag of approximately 4.5 x 6.5 or 6.5 x 4.5 inches. Medical bags are allowed.

To augment the safety and experience of the fans, Winturst Arena has enforced safety policies, restricting the style and size of the purses and bags allowed inside.

Within the arena, the patrons can bring purses or wallets smaller than or equivalent to a hand-sized clutch bag with or without a strap. The clutch bag should be 6.5 x 4.5 or 4.5 x 6.5 inches or less.

In addition to the size limitation on the purses, the venue restricts but is not limited to, the following bags within the facility.

• Cinch bags
• Camera bags
• Computer bags
• Briefcases
• Coolers (including thermos)
• Non-clear backpacks
• Luggage of any kind
• Non-clear fanny packs

The guests are requested to bring no bags or backpacks into the arena. However, in utmost need, the venue permits one clear bag and one clear Ziploc bag per person.

The clear bag should be made of PVC, plastic, or vinyl and must be smaller than or equivalent to 12 x 6 x 12 inches to be permitted within the arena. Also, the bags can have a shoulder strap or be hand-carried.

The permissible clear bag includes but is not limited to sling bags, fanny packs, or backpacks and is subject to inspection if deemed necessary.

Furthermore, each patron visiting the arena for any event could bring a clear plastic freezer Ziploc bag of a gallon besides a permissible purse and a clear backpack.

Moreover, guests can bring one diaper bag per child and one medically necessary items bag into the arena. The bags, however, will be passed through the metal detectors and visually inspected at the entrance before entry.

Wintrust Arena implements security guidelines and limitations like the no-bag policy and smoke-free venue for the guests' enjoyment, safety, and security.

This sports venue adheres to the City of Chicago and the Smoke-Free Illinois Act to restrict smoking within the facility.

It is prohibited to smoke tobacco, vaporizers, marijuana, and e-cigarettes inside the arena and the Arie Crown Theater at any time or event.

Also, the arena must be informed beforehand while bringing an umbrella during severe weather for an event. The venue permits little hand-sized umbrellas during those times.

Furthermore, the venue requires the guests to walk through a metal detector upon entry and submit to a search as a condition of event admission. Guests refusing the inspection will be prevented from entering the facility.

Some of the items that are prohibited in the arena are illustrated below.

• Large umbrellas
• Bags or Backpacks
• Outside beverages or foods
• Animals or pets except for certified service animals
• Containers like coolers, cans, or bottles
• Audio/video recorders (their permissibility per event)
• Laptops, iPads, or tablets
• Projectiles (incorporating balloons, beach balls, and frisbees)
• Noisemakers like whistles, air horns, etc.
• Signs bigger than 2' x 3' or on sticks or displaying offensive contents or with contents irrelevant to the event
• Stickers or all kinds
• Hoverboards, scooters, skateboards, or skates (in-line or roller)
• GoPro sticks, sticks, poles, or selfie sticks
• Weapons of all kinds (including items that can be constructed as a weapon)
• Illegal drugs or substances of all kinds
• Incendiary devices like fireworks, etc.
• Professional cameras, cameras with interchangeable lenses, or recording devices.

The facility reserves the right to restrict any item that might pose a danger to the public or patrons in any manner. The administration and security of the venue are capable of removing or arresting fans unwilling to comply with the abovementioned policies.

Likewise, the arena implies a no-re-entry policy at any time for all events. Guests aren't allowed to reenter the facility once exited, and signs stating such are set on all exit doors.

The Wintrust Arena is located in Chicago, Illinois. Hence, as per Illinois state laws, guests under 21 years of age are restricted from consuming or purchasing alcoholic beverages of any kind.

The venue cuts off the alcohol services for the patrons' safety at the 4th quarter start for basketball games and at the beginning of the last performance.

The arena holds the right to eject any guest possessing danger to themselves or others through disorderly conduct, intoxication, sexual harassment, drug use, etc.

Wintrust Arena has a seating capacity of 10,000 with 22 state-of-the-art suites. The seating chart for the venue varies per event.

Each floor section during concerts features about 20 seats in a row, with Seat 1 towards the floor's center that increases in number, moving left in sections 1 and 3 and right in sections 2 and 4.

Floors 1 and 2 will provide the best view during concerts at the arena, while sitting further back on sections 3 and 4 could obstruct your view due to the front-row fans.

For basketball, the seating chart of the arena features a courtside, lower bowl, upper bowl, and suite seating facilities.

The courtside seating is divided into eight sections, each comprising rows labeled from A to B. These sections offer the closest viewing experience for any basketball event in the venue.

The lower bowl is divided into sections labeled from 101 to 128. Seats in sections 106 and 107 are the best to enjoy home team games, as they position you behind the DePaul Bench.

The upper bowl facilitates seats from Section 201 to Section 230, while the suites can be divided into 11 sections from S1 to S11. These seats deliver a relaxed and private environment to celebrate a special occasion with close friends or to entertain clients.

Parking

The Wintrust Arena parking can be accessed at three parking lots at McCormick Place. It is divided into lots A, B, and C.

The closest parking to the arena is lot A, which features pedestrian bridges to Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Wintrust Arena, and Marriott Marque Chicago. Also, it provides the facility of accessible parking.

Furthermore, the venue offers a limited number of guaranteed prepaid parking spaces at about $38 per day rate through advance order. The availability of the spaces is irrelevant to the lots being filled.

The parking lots near Wintrust Arena with their location are listed below.

• Lot A - 2301 South Praire Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616
• Lot B - 3050 South Moe Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
• Lot C - Fort Dearborn Drive, Chicago, IL 60616

Hotels and Restaurants

Restaurants near Wintrust Arena are illustrated below:

Hotels near Wintrust Arena are listed below:

• Marriott Marquis Chicago - 2121 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago
• Hyatt Regency McCormick Place - 2233 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago

Wintrust Arena schedule for the upcoming events is shown in the table below.

Barstool Invitational Basketball

The Barstool Invitational Basketball Wintrust Arena event was held for the second year in a row on 8 November 2023. The inaugural event was held on 11 November 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

This is a men's college basketball regular-season tournament, featuring a two-game slate to the championship. Barstool Sports owns the broadcasting and naming rights to the games.

The 2023 Barstool Sports Invitational featured the early-season matchups between Loyola Chicago and Florida Atlantic University at 6 p.m. CT.  The first game featured the FAU 75-62 victory over the Loyola.

The Arizona State faced the Mississippi State immediately after the first game during the 2023 Invitational. 

Dan "Big Cart" Katz, John Dave "EI Pres" Portnoy, and other personalities of Barstool broadcasted their own men's regular-season college basketball tournament that night.