S C H E D U L E
Select a Competition
Empire Philly: The Constitution Classic September 26-29, 2026
Sonesta Rittenhouse Square
The schedule is subject to change.
On competition day, teams can find their courtroom assignments on PROcess.
Thursday, 9/25
6:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Scrimmage Rooms Available
Sonesta
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Team Check-In
T.B.D., Sonesta
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Shop Empire
T.B.D. Sonesta
Friday, 9/26
6:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Scrimmage Rooms Available
Sonesta
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Public Service Project (T.B.D.)
Sonesta
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Team Check-In & Shop Empire
Sonesta
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Pizza Dinner
Room T.B.D.
Please send two representatives to Room T.B.D. to pick up dinner.
Teams may not eat in their scrimmage rooms.
Division 1 - 4:15 PM
Division 2 - 4:30 PM
OPENING CEREMONY
TBD. Last year the Opening Ceremony took place off site (The Franklin Institute), we are currently exploring options for an offsite Opening Ceremony and will update the schedule closer to competition.
6:00 - 9:30 PM - Blue Carpet Entrance
7:00 PM - Ceremony
7:30 PM - Empire Exchange
8:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Ground Rules & Challenge Order
Saturday, 9/27
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Help Desk
Courthouse Lobby
08:15 AM - 09:15 AM
Arrive at Court @ Assigned Time
Center for Criminal Justice (1301 Filbert St)
To ensure that you are not stuck waiting in a long security line, each team will be assigned a time to report to the courthouse. Please be punctual - do not arrive before or after your report time.
09:30 AM
Team Introductions
Assigned Courtroom
09:40 AM
Guest Witnesses Released
Report to assigned courtroom
10:15 AM - 1:30 PM
Round 1
Center for Criminal Justice
ROUND 2
Center for Criminal Justice
1:15 PM or ASAP
Lunch
After your trial concludes, please send two members from your team to collect your lunch on the 9th floor of the courthouse. Lunch may be enjoyed in any available seating in the hallways of the courthouse. Lunch may not be eaten in any courtroom under any circumstances. Teams that take food into the courtrooms will be penalized in the competition.
Note: After lunch, Division 1 teams should report to the Lobby for photos.
2:45 PM
Round 2 Team Introduction
2:55 PM
Guest Witnesses Released
Report to assigned courtroom
3:30 PM - 6:45 PM
ROUND 2
Center for Criminal Justice
Sunday, 9/28
7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Help Desk, TBD
Courthouse
08:15 AM - 09:15 AM
Arrive at Court @ Assigned Time
Center for Criminal Justice (1301 Filbert St)
To ensure that you are not stuck waiting in a long security line, each team will be assigned a time to report to the courthouse. Please be punctual - do not arrive before or after your report time.
09:30 AM
Team Introductions
Assigned Courtroom
09:40 AM
Guest Witnesses Released
Report to assigned courtroom
10:15 AM - 1:30 PM
Round 3
Center for Criminal Justice
ROUND 3
Center for Criminal Justice
1:15 PM or ASAP
Lunch, Room TBD
After your trial concludes, please send two members from your team to collect your lunch on the 9th floor of the courthouse. Lunch may be enjoyed in any available seating in the hallways of the courthouse. Lunch may not be eaten in any courtroom under any circumstances. Teams that take food into the courtrooms will be penalized in the competition.
Note: After lunch, Division 2 teams should report to the Lobby for photos.
2:45 PM
Round 4 Team Introduction
2:55 PM
Guest Witnesses Released
Report to assigned courtroom
3:30 PM - 6:45 PM
ROUND 4
Center for Criminal Justice
6:30 PM
Optional Pizza Dinner (ASAP).
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Shop Empire
Sonesta
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Closing Ceremony
Ballroom, Sonesta
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Student Dance & Social
T.B.D.
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Coach & Staff Appreciation Night
Monday, 09/29
07:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Hotel Check-out
Front Desk
09:45 AM
Meet for Expierence Event
Lobby
10:00 AM - 1:15 PM
Championship Round, T.B.D
Only the two competing teams may attend the trial. A livestream link will be posted on PROcess and social media.
10:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Experience Event, T.B.D.
Empire Chicago: The World Championship
November 7-10, 2025
The Palmer House
The schedule is subject to change.
On competition day, a team can find its courtroom assignment and the room in which their Guest Witness is testifying on its PROcess page.
Thursday, 11/6
6:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Scrimmage Rooms Available
Palmer House
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Team Check-In
Mezzanine, Palmer House
Friday, 11/7
6:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Scrimmage Rooms Available
Palmer House
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Team Check-In
Mezzanine, Palmer House
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Shop Empire
TBD, Palmer House
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Public Service Project - TBD
Palmer House
Dinner Pickup
5:15 PM - Division 1
5:30 PM - Division 2
Please send two representatives from your team to TBD to pick up your meal. Food may only be consumed in your guest rooms or the hotel common area (e.g. by the elevator). You may not consume any outside food or beverage in the hotel conference rooms or the ballroom. Any team that is found violating this policy will be subject to an immediate competition penalty.
OPENING CEREMONY
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
International Ballroom, Palmer House
6:30 - 7:00 PM — Blue Carpet Entrance
7:00 PM – Ceremony
8:00 PM — Empire Exchange
9:00 PM - 9:30 PM – Ground Rules & Challenge Order
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Scrimmage Rooms Available
Hilton Chicago
Saturday, 11/8
07:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Help Desk
Courthouse Lobby
08:15 AM - 09:15 AM
Arrive at Court @ Assigned Time
Courthouse TBD
To ensure that you are not stuck waiting in a long security line, each team will be assigned a time to report to the courthouse. Please be punctual - do not arrive before or after your report time.
09:45 AM
Round 1 Team Introduction
09:55 AM
Guest Witness Preparation
10:15 AM - 1:30 PM
ROUND 1
TBD
1:15 PM or ASAP
Lunch, Room TBD
Note: After the judges finish providing feedback, please send two representatives to T.B.D. room to pick up your lunch.
Teams will eat lunch in the designated areas. Any team that is found eating food in a courtroom room will be deemed ineligible to place at Empire Chicago.
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Lunch & Division 1 Photos
Note: After lunch, Division 1 teams should report to the photo room (TBD) for photos.
2:45 PM
Round 2 Team Introduction
2:55 PM
Guest Witness Preparation
3:30 PM - 6:45 PM
ROUND 2
TBD
Sunday, 11/9
07:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Help Desk
TBD, Courthouse
08:15 AM - 09:15 AM
Arrive at Court @ Assigned Time
TBD, Courthouse
To ensure that you are not stuck waiting in a long security line, each team will be assigned a time to report to the courthouse. Please be punctual - do not arrive before or after your report time.
09:45 AM
Round 3 Team Introduction
09:55 AM
Guest Witness Preparation
10:15 AM - 1:30 PM
ROUND 3
Courthouse
1:15 PM or ASAP
Lunch, Room TBD
Note: After the judges finish providing feedback, please send two representatives to T.B.D. room to pick up your lunch.
Teams will eat lunch in the designated areas. Any team that is found eating food in a courtroom room will be deemed ineligible to place at Empire Chicago.
1:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Lunch & Division 2 Photos
Note: After lunch, Division 2 teams should report to the photo room (TBD) for photos.
2:45 PM
Round 4 Team Introduction
2:55 PM
Guest Witness Preparation
3:30 PM - 6:45 PM
ROUND 4
Courthouse
6:30 PM
Optional Dinner (ASAP)
Same meal instructions as Opening Ceremony Dinner.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Shop Empire
International Ballroom Foyer
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Closing Ceremony
International Ballroom, Palmer House
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Student Dance & Social
T.B.D.
8:30 PM - 11:30 PM
Coach & Staff Appreciation Night
Monday, 11/10
07:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Hotel Check-out
Front Desk
09:30 AM - 03:00 PM
Shop Empire
Palmer House
09:45 AM
Meet for Architecture Boat Tour
Lobby
10:00 AM - 1:15 PM
Championship Round, T.B.D
Only the two competing teams may attend the trial, though we will post a livestream link on PROcess and social media.
10:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Wendella Architecture Tour
There's no better way to see the city! We'll board at 10:45 AM and be back to the pier by 1:00 PM. We'll see you there!