Michael Jordan Statue
4.7(2.1K)google
4.2(31)yelp
SportsCity LandmarkPhoto Spot
Overview
The Michael Jordan Statue, officially titled 'The Spirit,' is a magnificent, world-famous bronze monument located inside the soaring atrium of the United Center stadium on the West Side. Sculpted expertly by Omri and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany in 1994, the stunning 12-foot masterpiece captures 'His Airness' frozen forever in time, soaring majestically above his opponents to execute a signature thunderous slam dunk. For sports fans around the world, making a pilgrimage to this monument to photograph its stone granite pedestal listing Jordan's unparalleled career achievements is an absolute rite of passage when visiting the house he built.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 15-20 minutes
Best TimeAccessible year-round, with non-game-day mornings being the absolute best time. Officially titled 'The Spirit,' this iconic bronze statue of Michael Jordan soaring to dunk is housed entirely indoors within the massive glass atrium of the United Center. Non-game-days allow for uncrowded, multi-angle photos.
Getting ThereLocated inside the United Center on the Near West Side. Take the 'L' Blue Line to the Illinois Medical District station, exit north, and walk about 8-10 minutes through the pedestrian pathways directly to the East Atrium entrance, which is free to enter daily.
Travel Tips
- Older travel blogs listing the statue as outdoors are obsolete. The legendary sculpture has been permanently moved inside the 5-story United Center Atrium; it is entirely invisible from the outer bare plaza.
- On non-event days, the Atrium is free and accessible to the public from 10 AM to 6 PM. However, on Bulls home game or concert days, it closes early for security sweeps and reopens exclusively to ticket holders.
- Entering the Atrium requires clearing comprehensive metal detectors. A strict 'No-Bag Policy' is enforced: backpacks, purses, or laptop sleeves exceeding 10x6x2 inches are barred; no luggage lockers exist.
Reviews
Positive
- This iconic bronze sculpture titled 'The Spirit' capturing Michael Jordan soaring delivers a visual impact that is truly legendary and authentic.
- The statue sits inside the grand glass-atrium concourse of the United Center, open completely for free, maximizing its historic core value.
- The location is prominent, flanked by extensive city bus networks; smooth indoor grading offers flawless accessible pedestrian transit.
- The black granite base is carved with legendary career achievements; descriptive signs are clear, and the concourse maintains tight safety order.
Heads up
- On Bulls or Blackhawks home game days, accessing the inner concourse requires strict crowd control, security screening, and an active event ticket.
- On non-event days, the vast parking expanses surrounding the United Center feel isolated and quiet, lacking walkable neighborhood commercial grids.
- During concert changeovers or stadium construction, the main atrium can close arbitrarily, preventing casual tourists from snapping photos.
- The stadium's dedicated surface lots charge extortionate rates during active games, making it unfriendly for low-budget driving stops.