Unspecified/General

The largest arena in the United States by seating capacity, the United Center on the Near West Side of Chicago is home to the city's professional basketball and ice hockey teams and a leading venue for concerts and events. Opened in 1994, it seats around twenty thousand for basketball and somewhat fewer for hockey, and expands further for the major touring acts that fill its calendar. The arena was built to replace the beloved but ageing Chicago Stadium that stood across the street, inheriting both the Bulls of the National Basketball Association and the Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. Its opening coincided with one of the most storied eras in basketball, and the building quickly became associated with the championship teams led by Michael Jordan, whose dynamic statue stands at its entrance. Beyond sport, the United Center ranks among the busiest arenas in the country, hosting concerts, political conventions, family shows and other large gatherings throughout the year. Its sheer size and central location have made it a fixture of the city's entertainment scene, and a surrounding campus of new development has grown up around it in recent years. The bronze statue of the basketball legend in mid-flight is itself a pilgrimage site for fans visiting the arena. For visitors the United Center is principally an events venue, with tickets sold by game or show, and the Jordan statue drawing visitors year-round. It sits a short distance west of the downtown Loop, reached by car, bus and shuttle services on event days, and anchors a district that has steadily transformed around the demands of its enormous crowds. The bronze statue of Michael Jordan in mid-leap, set near the entrance, has become a pilgrimage site for basketball fans from around the world, who queue for photographs whatever the season. On event nights the arena and its surrounding campus buzz with crowds, and its versatility, switching between basketball court, hockey rink and concert stage, keeps it among the busiest and most profitable venues of its kind anywhere in the country.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 1901 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL, United States

Website: https://www.unitedcenter.com

Capacity: 20917

Opening Date: 18/08/1994