Afternoon Briefing: Universal Studios ‘horror experience' planned near Bally's casino
Good afternoon, Chicago.
NBCUniversal will open a horror-themed attraction across from Bally's casino, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced this afternoon in what would be the brand's first entertainment venue in the Midwest.
The 'year-round immersive horror experience' will be titled Universal Horror Unleashed and sit in the vacant 114,000-square-foot building at 700 W. Chicago Ave., according to city officials. It is slated to open in 2027 and will receive tax credits from a state program.
Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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In a nearly two-minute video, as well as an in-person kick-off event on Chicago's South Side this morning, JB Pritzker made his third formal pitch to Illinois voters, saying he wanted to 'keep Illinois moving forward' while also presenting himself as a bulwark against President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape America. Read more here.
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Located at 300 S. Second St., the long-awaited St. Charles outpost of the Austin, Texas-based grocery store fills a space in the downtown that has been empty since 2022: the site of the old Blue Goose Market. Read more here.
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Without any NCAA playing experience, Noa Essengue is one of the lesser-known names to be selected with a top 15 pick. So why did the Bulls take a swing on him? And what does his future look like in Chicago? Read more here.
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On Wednesdays and Fridays, 'Arts on the Move' performers including a dance troupe, musicians and artists, are stationed at stops along the GPTC's Rapid Bus Route along Broadway offering popup performances to uplift riders during their day. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
The Trump administration's new vaccine advisers endorsed this fall's flu vaccinations for just about every American but threw in a twist: Only use certain shots free of an ingredient antivaccine groups have falsely tied to autism. Read more here.
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