United Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| United Center | |
|---|---|
| The UC | |
  |
|
| Location | 1901 W. Madison St. Chicago, Illinois |
| Broke ground | April, 1992 |
| Opened | August 18, 1994 |
| Owner | Bill Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf |
| Operator | Bill Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf |
| Architect | HOK Sport W.E. Simpson Company |
| Tenants | |
| Chicago Bulls (NBA) (1994-present) Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) (1994-present) |
|
| Seats | |
| Basketball: 22,879 Hockey: 20,500 Professional wrestling: 23,000+ |
|
The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in the Near West Side community area of Chicago, Illinois, named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines. The United Center is home to both the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA. The plan to build the arena was created by Bill Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf, the owners of the two sports teams, respectively. The United Center's predecessor was the indoor Chicago Stadium, which was demolished after the newer arena opened for business on August 18, 1994. The famous statue of Michael Jordan is located on the east side of the arena.
The privately owned arena is 960,000 square feet and is located on a 46 acre parcel, directly west of the Chicago Loop. The arena claims to be the largest in the United States (in physical size, not in capacity; the arena seats 20,500 for hockey, 22,879 for basketball and up to 23,500 for concerts), and hosts over 200 events per year, drawing over 20 million visitors since its grand opening. In addition to approximately 100 Bulls/Blackhawks games each year, the United Center has hosted other sporting events such as University of Illinois basketball, the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament (hosted six times with a seventh scheduled for 2007), and the Great Eight Classic. Musical acts appearing at the United Center have included Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, U2, The Who, Madonna, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, The Three Tenors, and Barbra Streisand. The United Center has also provided a Chicago home for Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice. The United Center was also the site of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) SummerSlam in 1994 (the first major event held inside the United Center) , and the 1996 Democratic National Convention. It also hosted the last World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Spring Stampede in 2000.
[edit] External link
| Preceded by Chicago Stadium 1967–1994 |
Home of the Chicago Bulls 1994–present |
Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by Chicago Stadium 1929–1994 |
Home of the Chicago Blackhawks 1994–present |
Succeeded by current |
Categories: Basketball venues in the United States | Buildings and structures in Chicago | Chicago Blackhawks | Chicago Bulls | Sports in Chicago | 1994 establishments | College basketball venues | Indoor arenas in the United States | Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States | National Hockey League venues | National Basketball Association venues | Sports venues in Chicago | Democratic National Convention venues | Music venues in the United States | Music venues in Illinois | Music venues
