Empire Chicago 2023: The Windy City Challenge

Competition Schedule

  • 06:00 AM - 11:59 PM
    Scrimmage Rooms Available
    Palmer House Chicago

    To access the Palmer House Wifi, select the wifi network PH_Meeting_Room and enter promotional code EPC23

  • 02:00 PM - 07:00 PM
    Empire Check-In
    Mezzanine, 2nd Floor

    Palmer House Chicago

  • 04:45 PM - 10:00 PM
    Play Ball! Chicago Cubs Game
    Wrigley Field

    We are really looking forward to experiencing historic Wrigley Field with your team! Please follow the below instructions to ensure that your evening is fun and enjoyable:

    • Please have one coach download the MLB Ballpark app on their mobile phone 
    • See Christian during Empire Team Check-in -- he'll transfer your team's tickets to you 
    • Meet downstairs near the S Wabash exit (by Starbucks) at 4:45 PM
    • Board buses and depart at approximately 5:00 PM
    • Arrive 40-50 minutes later (depending upon traffic) at the corner of N Clark St & W Irving Park (location here)
    • Walk to Bleacher's Entrance on corner of W Waveland & N Sheffield (location here) -- it's a 15 minute walk
    • Enter here - make sure that the person that downloaded the tickets is leading the group and has the app open
    • After the game, meet at the same spot on the corner of N Clark St & W Irving Park (location here)

    Christian Mancino is your point of contact for the night. Please text or call him if you encounter any issues (773-332-2624).


  • 06:00 AM - 01:00 PM
    Scrimmage Rooms Available
    Palmer House Chicago

    To access the Palmer House Wifi, select the wifi network PH_Meeting_Room and enter promotional code EPC23.

  • 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    Team Check-In
    Palmer House Chicago
  • 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    Public Service Project
    Adams Room, 6th Floor

    Palmer House Chicago

  • 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
    Shop Empire
    State Ballroom, 4th Floor
  • 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
    Opening Ceremony
    State Ballroom, 4th Floor
    The ceremony is held at the Palmer House Chicago.  Please bring your (raffle) ticket for entry--we will be raffling off a piece of Empire merchandise.

    Here is the schedule of events: 
    • 1:00pm - Blue Carpet Entrance
    • 1:30pm - Ceremony
    • 2:30pm - Empire Exchange
    • 3:30pm - Ground Rules & Challenge Order
  • 03:45 PM
    Round 1 Team Introduction
    State Ballroom, 4th Floor

    If you plan to use a demonstrative at trial, please bring it to the ballroom for the Team Introduction.

    During the Exchange, we advise sending someone to retrieve your demonstrative(s) from your hotel room.

  • 04:15 PM
    Dinner Pickup (Division 1)
    Room 13-250 (Palmer House Chicago)

    Please send two representatives to pick up dinner in guest room 13-250.

    Teams will eat their dinner in their hotel guest rooms, NOT their trial rooms (i.e. not the hotel conference rooms) or ballroom. Any team that is found eating food in a hotel conference room will be deemed ineligible to place at the competition.

  • 04:30 PM
    Dinner Pickup (Division 2)
    Room 13-250 (Palmer House Chicago)

    Please send two representatives to pick up dinner in Room 13-250.

    Teams will eat their dinner in their hotel guest rooms, NOT their trial rooms (i.e. not the hotel conference rooms) or ballroom. Any team that is found eating food in a hotel conference room will be deemed ineligible to place at the competition.

  • 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
    Teams Arrive at the Courthouse
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

    Your team's report time for each trial day is now on your PROcess team page. Please arrive at the report time--not earlier or later. 

    We are trying our best to minimize wait times through security, and really appreciate your cooperation.

    Here are walking directions from the Palmer House to the U.S. District Court.

  • 06:00 PM
    Round 1 GW Preparation
    Courtroom assignments on PROcess

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

  • 06:45 PM - 09:59 PM
    Round 1
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

  • 08:45 AM - 09:45 AM
    Teams Arrive at the Courthouse
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

    Your team's report time for each trial day is now on your PROcess team page. Please arrive at the report time--not earlier or later. 

    We are trying our best to minimize wait times through security, and really appreciate your cooperation.

    Here are walking directions from the Palmer House to the U.S. District Court.

  • 09:45 AM
    Round 2 Team Introduction
    Assigned R2 Courtroom
  • 10:00 AM
    Round 2 GW Preparation
    Assigned R2 Courtroom
  • 10:30 AM - 01:45 PM
    Round 2
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • 01:30 PM
    Lunch (ASAP)
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

    Teams will eat lunch in the courthouse cafeteria on the 2nd floor of the U.S. District Court. Please only report to the cafeteria once your Blue Shirt gives you permission to do so.

    Once you've finished lunch, please head back to your round 2 courtroom as soon as possible. The cafeteria has limited capacity, so we need you to make room for your Empire Family! 


  • 03:00 PM
    Round 3 Team Introduction
    Assigned R3 Courtroom
  • 03:15 PM
    Round 3 GW Preparation
    Assigned R3 Courtroom
  • 03:45 PM - 07:00 PM
    Round 3
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

  • 08:45 AM - 09:45 AM
    Teams Arrive at the Courthouse
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

    Your team's report time for each trial day is now on your PROcess team page. Please arrive at the report time--not earlier or later. 

    We are trying our best to minimize wait times through security, and really appreciate your cooperation.

    Here are walking directions from the Palmer House to the U.S. District Court.

  • 09:45 AM
    Round 4 Team Introduction
    Assigned R4 Courtroom
  • 10:00 AM
    Round 4 GW Preparation
    Assigned R4 Courtroom
  • 10:30 AM - 01:45 PM
    Round 4
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • 01:30 PM
    Lunch (ASAP)
    Room 13-250 (Palmer House Chicago)

    Please send two representatives to pick up dinner in room 13-250.

    Teams will eat their dinner in their hotel guest rooms, NOT their trial rooms (i.e. not the hotel conference rooms) or ballroom. Any team that is found eating food in a hotel conference room will be deemed ineligible to place at the competition.

  • 02:30 PM
    Announcement of Finalists
    Palmer House Chicago
  • 02:45 PM - 06:30 PM
    Architecture Cruise
    Wabash Avenue Entrance, Palmer House

    We will be meeting at 2:45 PM. If you arrive late, the group will be leaving without you.

    Please meet inside the Palmer House, near the Wabash Avenue entrance/exit (near Starbucks). Bring your tickets.

  • 03:45 PM - 07:00 PM
    Championship Round
    Ceremonial Courtroom, Chicago-Kent School of Law

    The Championship Round will be held in the Ceremonial Courtroom of Chicago-Kent School of Law. Here are driving directions.

    The trial will be live streamed. 

  • 06:45 PM
    Dinner (ASAP)
    Room 13-250 (Palmer House Chicago)

    Teams will eat their dinner in their hotel guest rooms, NOT their trial rooms (i.e. not the hotel conference rooms) or ballroom. Any team that is found eating food in a hotel conference room will be deemed ineligible to place at the competition.

  • 07:30 PM - 09:00 PM
    Closing Ceremony
    Palmer House Chicago
  • 07:30 PM - 09:30 PM
    Shop Empire
    State Ballroom, 4th Floor
  • 09:00 PM - 11:30 PM
    Student Dance & Social
    Honoré Room, Palmer House Chicago
  • 09:00 PM - 11:59 PM
    Coach & Staff Appreciation Night
    Palmer House Chicago

  • 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
    Team Check-out & Shop Empire
    Slack!

    If your students are interested in buying merchandise, please send us a Slack message and we'll arrange for pick-up.