Wilson Sporting Goods plans to relocate its global headquarters to downtown Chicago in late 2017.
The move will bring approximately 400 Wilson employees to the company’s new location in the Prudential Plaza building, located at 130 East Randolph Street. Wilson has been a Chicago-based company for its entire 102-year history, and is currently located near O’Hare International Airport.
“Wilson Sporting Goods represents a great chapter in Chicago’s history, and today they are doubling down on our city and our shared future,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “Chicago offers the unparalleled workforce, world-class transportation systems and access to the global economy Wilson needs to continue to grow and thrive for another 100 years.”
“This move downtown is strategically important for us as we cultivate our people, brand and business for the next century,” Mike Dowse, President of Wilson said. “For our team members, this relocation supports their professional growth by providing them with an exciting new work environment and greater access to all the creative inspiration, energy and resources of a vibrant downtown community. For our brand and business, it heightens the visibility of Wilson in the heart of the best sports city in the world, and the only city we have ever called home.”
Approximately 400 team members from the company’s commercial, marketing, product management, and business services units and from the Amer Sports America group will make the move. Amer Sports Americas leads sales efforts for all brands owned by Amer Sports, including Wilson, DeMarini, Louisville Slugger, Salomon, Arc’Teryx, Atomic, Suunto, Mavic and ENVE Composites, across the U.S., Canada and Latin America.
Since its founding, Wilson has called several locations in the greater Chicago-area home – from its original location on N. Sangamon Street in 1914 to Campbell Street in the 1920s, to River Grove in the 1950s, to its current location northwest of the city near O’Hare International Airport in 1992.
“We are thrilled to welcome Wilson to downtown Chicago,” Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd) said. “We’ve always been proud to call Wilson our own. Now the company, which has played a fundamental role in how sports are played and enjoyed around the world today, will make its home in our downtown corridor amongst several of the best community and professional sports venues and parks our city has to offer.”
One of Chicago’s most recognizable landmarks, Prudential Plaza has recently completed an extensive renovation, which includes the creation of a collection of the city’s top amenities such as an expansive fitness center, Club House and rooftop park overlooking world-famous Millennium Park.
According to the Chicago Tribune, a 12-year lease was reportedly signed on the fifth and sixth floors of the 41-story building. The new location provides easier access for Wilson’s business partners and is near sports fields. Wilson will also be allowed to display its logo outside of the building.
Paul Buckingham and Joe Zona of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank represented Wilson in its real estate search. Bill Truszkowski, Matt Pistorio, and Caroline Colnon of the Telos Group, LLC, represented the Prudential Plaza ownership in this agreement.
Photo courtesy Wilson Sporting Goods
