I think it does matter where it goes.

In my perfect world I would examine and quantify the following

1. The value of putting in a place that has minimal weather delays and weather impact. Ease of getting in and out and minimal disruption to pilots traveling in and out of training and check-rides.

2. The value of putting it centrally located where pilots from the east coast and west coast can get to it without crossing multiple time zones and getting to and from training as rested as possible.

3. Affordable real estate and the ability to design from a clean slate.

4. Low taxes, and more affordable cost of living for support employees.

Rahm Emanuel has the authority to unilaterally offer tax breaks?

Are these tax breaks indefinite or do they expire?

Do they go to the support employees?

This is from the March 2015 SSC report:
"

The company actions taken and planned are: asking Network Planning (Marketing) to reduce

the number of block hours they had previously planned to increase, shifting block hours

between fleets, shifting as much block time to Bases where higher staffing exists vs their

optimization plan. They are planning vacancies on the DCA 737 and some west and east coast

756. Their vacancy plan also allows for unfilled slots to go to new hires."

It's clear that Network Planning has programmed in increased block hours. What is your source of no current plans for an increase in block hours? 'The Company', in this context, is UAL's Crew Resources personnel, who were (as of the meeting) going to ask Network Planning to reduce planned block hours increases.

Can you point to a source where block hour plans are listed? I've looked in a lot of places and this is the best I can find .... Network Planning says increase block hours and Crew Resources' plan was to ask them to not increase block hours too much.

Andy, where did you read about crew planning asking not to increase block hours? I find that very interesting.

Every company public statement in the past year.

Anything other than Denver is a poor choice as far as quality and continuity of training experience is concerned. As someone has mentioned, if it moves out of Denver they are going to lose a gargantuan amount of experience. It's obvious that they don't care a hoot about that aspect. If they did, they would have simply decided to build a nice new complex off Tower Rd. right off the bat. But, my GUESS is that Sr mgmt would like to break apart the TK enclave as it is today. It is no secret that the way things are run post merger is the Theory X, micromanage style. If that is your goal, what would you do?

This is the funny part. Sr. Mgmt THINKS they're getting tax breaks.
However, the City of Chicago AND the State of Illinois are SO financially in ruin (e.g.unfunded pension liabilities..over 1B) that BK is in their future (ala DTW) unless a miracle happens in the statehouse. They can't print money. Illinois businesses and residents either pony up the dollars on income end or they get rid of the liabilities.

Those tax breaks are going to eventually vaporize and the State and City of Chicago will be sticking their hands in UA's pocket every chance they get. Anyone who wants to needlessly expand their business presence there should have their head examined. Alas, there is something deemed more important.

HOPEFULLY, I eat crow...and it would be happily at that.

That quote is from the March 2015 SSC report that you can find on alpa.org. To be clear, crew planning was asking Network Planning (Marketing) to reduce their planned block hour increase. It's not that they asked Marketing for zero block hour increase.
I'm going to assume that crew planning 'lost' their request, since it now appears that pilot training is ramping up.

I haven't seen that in any company public statement.

Go to: United Continental Holdings, Inc. - Investor Relations - Investor Relations
Go to Presentations
Open the top (newest) presentation given by Rainey on 5 March.
Page 5
3 bullet points for Efficient growth in 2015
- Adding slimline economy seats
- Increasing utilization of aircraft
- Upgauging regional fleet

Increasing utilization + adding 3% fleet growth = increased block hours.
You can find the 3% fleet growth on the same webpage,
Go to Investor Updates
Go to 1/22/15 update
Go to page 4

I haven't read anything indicating flat block hours from official releases.

I'm going to guess that Chicago was merely thrown in the mix of possible training center locations to extract more concessions from Houston and Denver. Either of the two should be a less expensive place to locate a combined training center than Chicago.

Nor have I. But, my ACP told me about reducing block hours. Not sure the company wants to officially release the info. May be sort of a hold back to keep some info out of the public realm.