Category: Illinovation
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Illinovation | Aaaaand Now!
In 1977, the Chicago Bulls transformed sports introductions by pioneering a dramatic lights-out lineup presentation, creating an emotional experience amidst uncertain game outcomes. As Chicago Stadium struggled with attendance, a unique pregame ritual emerged, utilizing darkness, spotlights, and music led by announcer Tommy Edwards. This innovation culminated with the iconic instrumental “Sirius,” which ingrained the…
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Illinovation | 13,000 Years Before Startups
Innovation in Illinois didn’t begin with the steel plow or the skyscraper. Long before the Magnificent Mile, the I&M Canal, or the railroads that turned Chicago into a global logistics empire, there was fire. This wasn’t accidental fire. It was controlled, strategic, and sophisticated landscape engineering. Set deliberately season after season, these fires were managed…
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Illinovation | Welcome to the Prairie Forge
Illinois Has a Branding Problem; We’re Going to Fix That Illinois has a branding problem. Not the “somebody redesign the state logo” kind. This runs deeper than fonts, slogans, or another tourism campaign featuring Chicago’s skyline and a suspiciously photogenic cornfield. We are remarkably bad at telling our own story. We talk about what’s broken,…