CHICAGO
Commune Hotels & Resorts recently opened the 241-room luxury, boutique Chicago Athletic Association hotel, following the restoration of the iconic 1890 vintage building.
Chicago Athletic Association's two-year restoration is the result of a partnership among AJ Capital Partners, Geolo Capital, Agman Partners, Commune Hotels & Resorts, Chicago-based Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and the award-winning design firm, Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors.
The property features 17,000 square feet of event space, elegant guest rooms and suites, and a multitude of innovative and interactive culinary experiences, including Cindy's, a rooftop lounge with breathtaking views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.
Founded in 1890 during a period when athletic associations were created to serve as places to network and foster business relationships, Chicago Athletic Association was started by a collection of prominent families whose names have become synonymous with American sport and athletic commerce, such as Wrigley, Comiskey, and Spalding. The Chicago Athletic Association hotel will continue to celebrate the club's high-spirited, sports-driven heritage amid its restaurants, lounges and ballrooms.
A unique element in that regard is the Spirited Play The Game Room, comprised of classic recreational activities such as bocce ball, billiards, shuffleboard and chess. The space has been designed to highlight leisurely play, including an installation of vintage pool cues above the bar, a playful mural of athletic characters and an oversized, original Chicago Athletic Association crest. Within the Game Room, Land and Sea Dept.'s Executive Chef Peter Coenen offers a menu of imaginative items that nod to familiar concession classics, alongside regional snack and street food favorites. The drink menu includes Beverage Director Paul McGee's take on classic cocktails, a selection of draft and bottled beer and a curated wine list.
Continuing with the hotel's sports-driven spirit, Chicago Athletic Association's gymnasium, Stagg Court, has been fully restored to its original grandeur, featuring three basketball hoops and a vintage mahogany running track encircling the room from one story above. Stagg Court will be available to guests as a recreational facility and will also serve as event space.
