United Center

The largest arena in the NBA and second largest in the NHL.

United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is named for its corporate sponsor United Airlines. With a seating capacity of up to 23,500, the United Center is the largest arena by capacity in the NBA, and second largest arena by capacity in the NHL after the Bell Centre.

Quick Facts

Nickname

The House that Jordan Built
The UC
The Madhouse on Madison

Address

1901 West Madison Street

Location

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Groundbreaking

April 6, 1992

Built

1992–1994

Opened

August 18, 1994

Owner

United Center Joint Venture (UCJV) (Chicago Bulls 50%/Chicago Blackhawks 50%)

Operator

United Center Joint Venture

Lore & Background

Opened in 1994, the United Center replaced the West Side's Chicago Stadium, which was opened in 1929 and located across Madison Street from the center. It is owned by the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families. The first event held at the arena was WWF SummerSlam. The arena is home to a statue of Michael Jordan, erected in 1994. Originally outside, it now stands inside an atrium extension added in 2017. The Jordan statue has since been joined by statues of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita.

Reader's Guide

The arena seats 19,717 for hockey, 20,917 for basketball and up to 23,500 for concerts. The Bulls and Blackhawks own and operate the United Center through the United Center Joint Venture, a 50/50 partnership. The Bulls opened their practice facility, The Advocate Center, in 2014. The Blackhawks opened their practice facility, Fifth Third Arena, in 2017.

Did You Know?

The United Center is the largest arena in the United States in size, though not in capacity.
The arena's acoustics were designed to amplify noise to replicate 'The Roar' of Chicago Stadium.
The original construction cost $175 million.
The arena hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1996 and 2024.
The arena served as the municipal emergency hub in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the United Center located in Chicago?

This iconic arena stands on the Near West Side of Chicago and serves as a major sports landmark since its opening in 1994. It has been the primary home for professional franchises in Illinois ever since construction finished.

When did the Bulls start playing at this venue?

The franchise moved into the United Center for the beginning of the 1994-1995 season. This transition occurred after years of playing at the previous Chicago Stadium.