The United Center, home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, is the largest arena in the United States. Construction was begun in April of 1992, with the ribbon cutting ceremony being held on August 18, 1994.Year Opened: 1994
Capacity: 21,711 (basketball), 20,500 (hockey), 25,000 (general event)
Architect: HOK Sport, Marmon Mok, W.E. Simpson Company
Web Site: unitedcenter.com
Phone: 312/455-4668
Anchor Tenants: Chicago Bulls (NBA) / Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Parking: There are over 6,000 parking spaces in lots surrounding the United Center that can be accessed from Damen Avenue, Madison Street, Adams Street and Warren Boulevard.
Directions: 1901 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612. From the North: Take I-90 East to the Madison St. exit and make a right onto Madison St. The building will then be on your left.From the South: Take I-55 North to the Damen/Ashland exit and make a left, going northbound for approximately 7 minutes. The building will then be on your right. From the East: Take Madison St. West from the Loop. From the West: Take I-290 East to the Damen exit. Take Damen Ave. northbound to Madison St. Make a right onto Madison and the building will be on your right.
Public Transportation: Take the Orange, Green, Purple, or Brown lines to Madison. Take Bus 20 west. For Bulls and Blackhawks games only, Bus 19 takes you there as well.
History
In 1988, William Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Jerry Reinsdorf, majority owner and Team Chairman of the Chicago Bulls, formed a new partnership to create an arena that would take sports and entertainment into the 21st century.
The United Center, home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, is the largest arena in the United States. Construction was begun in April of 1992, with the ribbon cutting ceremony being held on August 18, 1994.
Since opening, the United Center has hosted over 200 events each year. Some of the events the United Center has hosted include the 1996 Democratic National Convention, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Paul McCartney, U2, The Who, The 3 Tenors, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Great Eight Classic, DePaul College Basketball, and Champions on Ice.
