United Center

The United Center is one of the largest arenas in the country, and the proud home of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Chicago Bulls basketball teams. When not hosting sports events, the United Center serves as a venue for live concerts, circuses and many other large-scale events. The whole community of restaurants, bars and retailers that has sprung up in its immediate vicinity has been steadily attracting new housing and residents to the neighborhood.

United Center: Home of the Bulls, Blackhawks, and More 

Written by Alan Solomon, with research assistance from the Chicago Neighborhood Tourism Project.

The centerpiece of the United Center neighborhood is, well, the United Center (along with a whole lot of adjacent parking areas).

Privately financed by Chicago Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and Chicago Blackhawks owner William Wirtz, the United Center -- the largest arena (960,000 square feet) in the United States -- opened in 1994. Along with hosting games involving the Bulls and Blackhawks, it has been home to college sporting events, circuses, ice shows, concerts and the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

It also has 48 public restrooms.

Unlike the restrooms, the Michael Jordan Statue -- outside the building's east end -- can be seen on event days without buying a ticket. Jordan, of course, led the Bulls to three of their six NBA championships (1996-98) in this building after they'd won three (1991-93) in the old Chicago Stadium (1929) that stood next door. 

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