Paddy Harmon

Patrick T. 'Paddy' Harmon was an Irish-American businessman and sports promoter. He is most noted as the builder of the Chicago Stadium, which opened in 1929 at a cost of $9.5 million, the largest indoor arena at the time.

The building of the Stadium was opposed by rival sports promoters who wanted to build their own arena in Chicago, namely the Madison Square Garden corporation of New York, and the workmen who built the Stadium. Harmon himself put out a fire on the roof of the Stadium set by disgruntled workmen. Within a year, Harmon was ousted as president of the Stadium by its shareholders. Harmon sank his entire fortune into the project, which was built in the neighbourhood where he grew up. When he died a year later from injuries in a car crash, all he left to his family was $250 in cash, and his shares in the Stadium, which was heavily indebted. His funeral was held in the Stadium, paid for by friends. The Stadium held a benefit show to raise funds for his family.

Quotes

Upon its completion, Harmon was asked about having to face the adversity of building the Stadium:

• "Never stay licked", quoted in The Spokesman-Review, February 24, 1929

Harmon was asked about his philosophy of sports promotion:

• "It is not hard to please the public. All you have to remember is that we are all born children, that we all die children and that in-between times we are children.", from the article The Chicago Stadium Organ "Remember the Roar" in The Tracker.