United Center (Chicago, Illinois)

The United Center (United Center) is an indoor sports arena located in Chicago, Illinois. Named in honor of the sponsor of United Airlines. It is the home arena for the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA. The idea of ​​building a new stadium belongs to Rocky Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf, owners of two sports teams in the city. Prior to that, these teams played at Chicago Stadium, which was demolished after the United Center opened on August 18, 1994. Near the east side of the stadium is a statue of Michael Jordan.

General information

Official website: https://www.unitedcenter.com/

Arena capacity: 20,917 spectators

Address: 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 41°52′50″N 87°40′27″W

Year of construction: 1992–1994

Construction cost: $296 million

Field: 960,000 square feet (89,000 m2)

Joint Center Seating Plan

Club level

For one of the best events in the United Center, consider club-level tickets for the Bulls. The club level is located on the second level of seating and has its own hall, access to which only 200 ticket holders have.

In addition to an exclusive lounge with lounge chairs and TVs, ticket holders can take advantage of the on-site waiting service and deliver food and drinks to the seats. If you prefer to get up and walk, the queues in the toilets and concessions are known as less loaded than on the 100 and 300 levels.

It’s good that the queues are short and you have waiter service, because you don’t want to leave your seats. The club level is known for having some of the best seats and the most comfortable views of the court.

Courtside

Seating in the courtyard is accessible from all four sides of the United Center, and most sections are marked by direction (for example: Courtside West). The only exceptions are the seats between the benches, which are labeled Bench West and Bench East. Each section on the court has only one row of seats where you can sit on the floor and be a few inches from the players.

Recommended places for children and families

Section 116:

• Next to the courtyard, Benny Bull, all the fun entertainment;
• At your fingertips: a fan shop, lounges, an ambulance, guest services, championship prizes;
• The farthest section from any of the UC bars.

Recommended places for guest impressions

Sections 101 and 122:

• Amazing view of the central court;
• Proximity to both team benches;
• Ticket prices in the upper tier.

Recommended places for parties and socializing

Section 102:

• Low level of excitement near the Bulls bench;
• Short walk to the first UC bar (located near section 103).

Sections 306, 312, 323, and 329:

• Bars in the open air to communicate with good people and a good drink;
• Saving on the ticket price leaves more opportunities to enjoy food, drinks and activities after the game;
• Donate a look and proximity to the price.

Recommended places for a great view of the court

Sections 201, 217, 218 and 234:

• Who does not like the view of the central court;
• Wait for employees + fewer rows = minimum time spent on the action;
• Ticket prices are average.

Where to buy tickets?

There are a lot of options to buy tickets for upcoming games and event at the arena. For exclusive pre-sales and special ticket deals, sign up for the United Center Newsletter.

United Center Box Office Hours:

• Days without events: Monday-Friday, 11:00-18:00, Saturday, 11:00-16:00;

• Game days: 11:00 — end of the second break or half-time.

Ticketmaster.com

Buy tickets on the UC Ticketmaster page. Visit the event page for a direct link to buy tickets or a phone number.

Ticketmaster Retail Outlets

There are more than 60 Ticketmaster sales points in the ChicagoLand place where you can buy tickets. Find your nearest Ticketmaster ticket sales point.

Ticket usually costs about $45 on the Internet or at the box office and can vary depending on who the Bulls are playing with and whether it’s the weekend evening. There are tickets in the secondary market, and you can find prices around $22 against less popular opponents or in the evenings on weekdays. With that said, a little research and flexible time would be helpful to find the most affordable ticket.

Concession prices are sort of high, but no different from other NBA venues, expecting to pay about $10 for sandwiches, $9-11 for beer and up to $18 for premium meal. Parking costs $24 to park a car, a certain theft in Chicago, or park for free along Wood Street under the train line, if available.

How to get there?

Directions and parking

From:

• North. Take I-90 East to the Madison Street exit and turn right onto Madison Street. The arena will be on your left;
• New predictions for soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, etc. are created every hour.
• South. Take I-55 north to the Damen exit and turn left, moving north for about 7 minutes. The arena will be on your right;
• East. Take Madison Street to the west of Loop;
• West. Take I-290 East to exit 28A (Damen Avenue). Take Damen Avenue north to Madison Street. Turn right on Madison Street and the venue will be on your right.
• Take a look at the freebets offered by the bookmaker.

Public transportation

CTA

Take the Orange, Green, Purple, or Brown lines to Madison. Take Madison bus number 20 to the west.

To the United Center: bus number 19 United Center Express operates on game days. The service starts 90 minutes before the start of the game, runs every 10 minutes to 30 minutes before the start of the game. Take a bus stop starting south to Michigan and Randolph. Connections are made to Metra trains at Millennium Station, Ogilvie Center and Union Station. Madison bus number 20 departs westward on Madison Street, starting from the downtown on Wabash Street, and goes every few minutes, making all stops to the venue.

From the United Center: United Center Express No. 19 and Madison No. 20 buses go every few minutes, departing on the east side of Madison Street. Buses make every stop.

All United Center official parking spots is comfortably situated next to the United Center and are accessible from Damen Avenue, Madison Street, Adams Street, Warren Boulevard, Wood Street, Monroe Street and Washington Street. Please note: parking is open to the public two hours before the event time.

General parking

Price on Ticketmaster for lots C and K is about $27, other lots — $22 and for lot H and bus it’s unavailable. On-site payment for lots C and K is about $29, other lots — $24, lot H — $40 and bus — $40.

All prices are subject to change without notice.

Cash and all major credit cards are accepted.

United Center offers free parking for selected family events at all arena official parking lots. All parking rules outlined below remain valid.

For more information about disabled parking, see the United Center Accessibility Guide on the official website.

EV Charging Stations

EV charging stations are available in lots H and K. Free of charge. Please be polite and maintain parking/charging on time.

Parking Policies

• no in/out privileges;
• overnight parking only if it is connected to events and not approved in advance;
• solicitation is prohibited;
• consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited;
• tailgating or similar activities are prohibited.

Suites parking

Two reserved parking passes will be valid in lots C and K. Two other reserved parking passes will be valid for lots A, B, D, E or L. Holders of these passes will be sent to A, B, D, E or L lots by traffic police and parking staff depending on road conditions. Parking tickets are good for one spot each. Please attach a parking pass to the rear-view mirror of your car so that traffic police officers and parking staff are able to recognize you as an Executive Suite Holder.

For all special events, each Executive Suite owner will receive two free parking tickets for each event ordered. These two passes are given for reserved parking with location at sections C and K. Moreover, Executive Suite owners will also have the opportunity to buy four additional parking tickets at sections C and K for special events.

Suite Holder parking tickets are also relevant for buses or limousines in accordance with specific instructions.

Lexus club parking

Lexus Club Seat member has reserved parking in fenced, well-marked and well-lit parking area next to the United Center for all Black Hawks or Bulls pre-season event, regular season and play-off competitions. All Lexus Club members who buy tickets to other games can also buy one of the preferred parking tickets (in lots C or K) for these events. Detailed information on how to get parking for other games is included in the fax transmission announcing every event.

Lexus Club Seat members with 2 or 4 tickets receive a free, reserved parking spot on a closed, paved area for all pre-season of Blackhawks or Bulls, regular season and playoff events. Lexus Club Seat members for five or more places will be given two parking tickets.

Where to eat?

The outer hall of the venue is sort of narrow and creates the feeling of an airport terminal, which would be explainable in a building named after United Airlines. However, the modernization of this area has created stands that offer Chicago-style menu items, places to relax, and upscale places for gourmet food and beer.

Local favorites include Italian beef, Maxwell Street Polish, gyros, deep-dish pizza, and Viennese beef hot dogs that are dragged around the garden. Giordano’s has a separate area where pizza and countertops are baked so you can enjoy your meal. Chicago’s own Goose island, is also served on tap and is presented in many concession points or in its own bar in the lower hall, where there are table stools and televisions.

Big Star is another concession area offering tabletops and Mexican-style dishes that are kind of more expensive. Here you can buy carne asada tacos, marinated chicken fajitas, and margarita. If you are still craving Mexican food, there are other places where chicken and nacho grande steak, steak and chicken tako-ting are served.

The United Center also has pulled pork nachos, pulled pork platters, tri-tip smoked beef carved turkey and smoked bacon sandwiches. There are also single and double grilled beef burgers and many other options to satisfy your food desires. There is even a dish with the name garbage salad.

Where to go?

Atrium at the United Center

United Center Atrium is a center for locals and guests from all over the world, where home teams and the Near West Side gather and have a celebration. In this atrium you should definitely see the statue of Michael Jordan, Box Office, Madhouse Team Store, Mad West and much more!

Madhouse Team Store

These are 10,000 square feet of retail space is co-brand of Bulls and Blackhawks, as well as an exclusive new Madhouse apparel line!

Equipped with interactive technology, guests can take photos in a photo booth, make calls to play some of the most famous moments in the history of both teams, and even create their own T-shirts or hats!

www.MadhouseTeamStore.com

Mad West & Atrium Bar

Tired? Starving? Thirsty? Mad West will help you here. The Mad West menu proposes a selection of Dark Matter Coffee, beer, and unique dishes variations made according to the street food culture. Draws inspiration from the elements of Chicago’s Near West Side, Mad West was created using brick and street art, creating a relaxed, creative atmosphere for fans and visitors.

Heading to the United Center early? Go to the Atrium Bar for a drink!

Queenie’s Supper Club

Queenie’s Supper Club is a perfect choice for dinner before a concert. Inspired by their Wisconsin neighbors Queenie’s is distinguished by a modern interpretation of the classic dinner in the Midwest. Historically recognized as a place where friends and families can gather for dinner and entertainment, this concept is naturally suited for the United Center, which hosts all generations of fans.

For a full menu, opening hours and reservations, please visit QueeniesSupperClub.com.

Michael Jordan Statue

Looking for memorable photos? Check out the statue of Michael Jordan, situated in the atrium.

The statue, presented in front of national television viewers by Larry King, Jerry Reinsdorf and Michael Jordan himself at the ceremony on November 1, 1994, when the famous No. 23 was retired, is on a 5-foot stand made of black granite decorated with Jordan’s basketball achievements and the quote: “The best there ever was. The best there ever will be.”

The statue itself is 12 feet high (17 feet from the top down) and weighs 2 000 pounds. The statue was cast from bronze using the lost wax method at the Art Casting of Illinois foundry in Oregon, Illinois.

Atmosphere

The Bulls are still famous in the United Center, and many games are almost or completely full. The main passages in the hall are usually full of commerce, people grab some food or check out many interactive video screens that cover the team’s history, including the six NBA games from 1991 to 1998.

There are also different places, such as the Goose Island Bar and Giordano’s, where visitors can relax and enjoy couple of drinks and eat in Chicago style while they’re away from the seat in the main bowl.

The upper hall also offers four social area-bars in each corner, which open up to the seating zone to view the game.

In the “United Center” the banners of the championship, which hang on the rafters of the Bulls and the Blackhawks are definitely attracting attention. Just look at the six championship banners from the Bulls and the numbers of retired Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen t-shirts to immerse into the atmosphere of the rich history of the team years ago.

The massive seating bowl is huge and never seems too abrupt or limited. The main aisles open in the middle, making it very easy to get to your place. You never seem to climb Everest to get to your place. The same goes for the lower zone, where you feel almost at the centre of an action that takes place on solid wood.

The Madhouse Team Store, situated in the eastern part of the arena, is a 10,000 square foot retail store, which offers official team merchandise and exclusive Madhouse clothing. Fans have the ability to make game calls through interactive touch screens located inside the CTA multi-purpose cars. They can also insert themselves into legendary photos of the team and share them on social networks. There are also special sale prices for certain equipment and giant-size copies of both the Stanley Cup and Larry O’Brien Trophy, for more photo operations.

Nevertheless, the main place for photographing is outside the store near the Michael Jordan statue. Bronze and black granite with a height of 12 feet is currently situated inside the atrium and is an art work.

Neighborhood

When an event takes place at the United Center, the neighborhood is noisy because of fans head for the game to have a snack and drink before a Bulls game. Chicago’s West End does have a reputation, however, just like the South Side, where the Sox play, the neighborhood is good during hockey and basketball events.

Hawkeye’s is famous for its homemade chili and hamburgers for $1.50. There are also abundance wines, spirits, and beers. On warm days, the patio on the sidewalk makes a good choice before the game. Before every Bulls game Park Tavern offers $3 drafts, saving up to 70% on the price of beer in the venue, while The Ogden and WestEnd offer amazing meal, chef dishes and a lot of flat-screen TVs.

If you’re looking for a top place in Chicago, The Billy Goat on Madison is just a several blocks away and is famous for its cheese “cheezborgers”, made popular by Saturday Night Live. The restaurant is also part of the Chicago legends, since it was the architect of the curse of Billy Goat Curse, who made Chicago Cubs go 108 years between wins in the World Series.

Fans

The Bulls are one of the best drawing clubs in the league, with an average of more than 20,000, leading in attendance at the NBA. This is a rare moment when Chicago does not end at the top of the average attendance, it happened back in 2009.

Features

The Bulls and Blackhawks operate the United Center through a 50/50 partnership, the United Center Joint Venture (UCJV). It covers 960,000 square feet (89,187 m2) on a 46-acre (19 ha) parcel, west of the Chicago Loop. The arena is the largest in the United States in size, though not in capacity. Its exterior bears a striking resemblance to that of Chicago Stadium. It seats 19,717 for hockey, 20,917 for basketball and up to 23,500 for concerts. The United Center hosts over 200 events per year and has drawn over 20 million visitors since its opening. Attendance routinely exceeds seating capacity for Bulls and Blackhawks games.

United Center’s acoustics were designed to amplify noise to replicate “The Roar” – the din that made Chicago Stadium famous, especially during hockey games. During hockey season, an Allen Organ is played that is a replica of the old arena’s famous Barton organ. Recreating the old organ’s notes took two years.

The building is 140 feet tall, and cost $175 million to build, from concrete and 3,500 tons of steel. Originally having 216 luxury skyboxes, as of the renovation the arena has 169 executive suites on three levels.

The hardwood floor for the Bulls games is laid over the ice that the Blackhawks play on. The flooring is assembled like a puzzle and taken apart when the Blackhawks have a game.

Sports events

In addition to 82 Bulls and Blackhawks games each year, the United Center has hosted other sporting events such as University of Illinois basketball, the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Roundball Classic, and the Great Eight Classic. The arena was the Bulls’ home during their second run of three consecutive championships, hosting the NBA Finals.

The United Center was also the site of the World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view SummerSlam – the first major event held inside the building, and also the only major event held in the building by WWE. It also hosted the last of World Championship Wrestling’s annual Spring Stampede pay-per-view. The Ultimate Fighting Championship held their events at the arena as well.

The arena has hosted the Stanley Cup Finals three times.The Illinois State High School Hockey Championships are hosted at the United Center yearly for the Blackhawk Cup.

The Professional Bull Riders made their Built Ford Tough Series debut at the United Center.

The arena also was a host for the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions and the second edition of the Laver Cup.

Renovations

300 Level

The United Center’s 300 Level features a renovated concourse with 144 flat screen televisions, new food and beverage stations above select seating sections and two new bars that open up to panoramic views of the arena. Two additional bars with panoramic views of the arena were added along with the other two. A third panoramic LED bar was installed around the 300 level, replacing the famous “Welcome to the Madhouse” signs.

The United Center includes:

• a variety of new menu items provided by the United Center’s new food and beverage provider, Levy Restaurants;
• a new concession stand and seating area located in Section 326 called “Backstage”;
• new concession stands and bars located at the top of the 300 Level on the north side of the arena to provide fans sitting in that area with easy access to food and beverage service;
• two new novelty areas carrying merchandise unique to “The Madhouse on Madison”;
• new concourse food stations with increased seating;
• new video systems featuring photography, video and animation on the concourse walls which will create images and specialized programming for each individual event.
• hardwood floor — a new court was added to the UC and includes multiple design changes.