The nickname "Monsters of the Midway" was originally applied to the University of Chicago Maroons, a NCAA college football team. "Midway" is a reference to the Midway Plaisance, a long, green swath of boulevard space bordering the southern end of the campus. The popularity of "Monsters of the Midway" was renewed by the dominant defense of the Chicago Bears, a professional NFL team.

Now it has been resurrected as "Sea Monsters of the Midway" by the corsairs of New Chi-Town's Black Ark, The Midway, in the premier East / Mid-West Challenge!