United Center
4.7(24K)google
4.0(785)yelp
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Overview
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.
Practical Info
Mon11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat11:00 AM – 5:00PM
SunClosed
Suggested Duration3-4 hours
Best TimeOctober to April during the active NBA Chicago Bulls or NHL Chicago Blackhawks regular seasons is prime time. Arrive at least 2 hours before tip-off or puck-drop to comfortably photograph the iconic Michael Jordan 'Flying' bronze statue in the atrium and shop the team store before the 20,000-person crowd swells.
Getting ThereSituated west of the Loop. Take the CTA Blue Line to Medical Center station or the Green/Pink Lines to Ashland station, both followed by a 10-minute walk. On game days, the CTA #19 United Center Express bus runs directly from downtown straight to the arena gates, offering a much smoother exit than driving into their gridlocked paid lots.
Travel Tips
- Aggressive western winds clear across the parking lots create dangerous wind-chills in winter; wait for your post-game rideshare inside the designated heated holding bays.
- The entire complex enforces an absolute cashless mandate; all concession footprints and team merchandise registers accept credit cards or Apple Pay only, refusing hard currency.
- Bags larger than 10x6x2 inches are denied entry at security checkpoints; non-compliant items must route to the paid mobile locker pods on the south exterior quadrant for a $20 fee.
Reviews
Positive
- The legendary Michael Jordan bronze statue is awe-inspiring; the home game energy for the Cubs and Blackhawks is fierce, living up to sports history.
- As a massive modern arena, the placement of restrooms, multi-language directional signs, and bins is dense; seating and concourses are kept clean.
- Transit is diverse; game days trigger dedicated express transit shuttles, and the rideshare pick-up/drop-off zone is clearly zoned for basic convenience.
- The stadium crowd control and security lines are highly efficient, maintaining smooth flow for tens of thousands of fans under professional guidance.
Heads up
- The location is west of the core downtown; when crowds exit after games into darker surrounding streets, walking alone to the subway sparks safety anxieties.
- The official stadium parking lots charge exorbitant event rates ($40-$60), and post-game police road closures cause heavy, frustrating traffic gridlock.
- On-site food and merchandise pricing carry heavy markup; a team jersey or a simple hotdog-and-soda combo is steeply overpriced, pinching wallets.
- If visiting on non-game or non-event days just to see the Jordan statue, the complex feels hollow, bleak, and devoid of any secondary entertainment.