United States Center is an indoor sports arena located in the neighborhood of the Near West Side in Chicago, Illinois. United Center is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). The arena is named after the sponsors of a city-based company, United Airlines.
Plans to build the arena were created by Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf. The United Center's predecessor was the original Chicago, "Madhouse on Madison" Stadium, which was destroyed after the new arena opened for business on August 18, 1994. The first event at United Center was WWF SummerSlam (1994). Due to the 1994-95 NHL lockout, the Blackhawks did not move until January 1995.
The eastern side of the arena displays the statues of Michael Jordan (known as "The Spirit"), Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, while the various Blackhawks statue sits north on Madison Street, where Chicago Stadium is located.
The United Center is home to the 1996 Democratic National Convention, where a new style of four-screen speech that drives the system for speakers pioneered in the United States, consisting of two glass teleprompters, accompanied by podium monitors, and a confidence monitoring camera.
Video United Center
Arena Information
Bulls and Blackhawks operate United Center through United Central Joint Venture (UCJV), a 50/50 partnership of both teams. It covers 960,000 square feet (89,187m 2 ) and is located in a 46-acre parcel (19 ha), west of the Chicago Loop. The arena is the largest in the United States in physical size, although not in capacity. The exterior has a striking resemblance to the Chicago Stadium. This seats 19,717 (not including standing room) for hockey, 20,917 (not including standing room) for basketball and up to 23,500 for concerts. United Center hosts more than 200 events per year and has attracted over 20 million visitors since its opening. This is known for routinely exceeding the seating capacity for Bulls and Blackhawks games.
The United Center's acoustics are designed to amplify noise levels to replicate "The Roar" - a noise frenzy that makes Chicago Stadium famous, especially during hockey games. During the hockey season, the Allen Organ, which is a replica of Barton's well-known organs used; Recreating old organ records takes two years.
The building is 140 feet tall, and costs $ 175 million to build, mainly composed of concrete and 3,500 tons of steel. While Blackhawks and Bulls have long been planning to get another arena, problems with the real estate market and the early 1990s recession made the project only take-off after financing provided by international syndicates, with funding from banks from Japan, Australia and France.. Planning has 216 luxurious skybox, and on the 2009-10 renovation, the arena has 169 executive suites on three levels.
Both the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls play here during their season with some matches going on at night. With this, hardwood flooring for the Bulls game is placed on the ice that Blackhawks play. The floor is put together like a puzzle and separated when the Blackhawks have the game.
Maps United Center
Events
Sports
In addition to 82 Bulls and Blackhawks games each year, United Center has hosted other sporting events such as University of Illinois basketball, Men's Big Ten Basketball Tournament (from the first tournament in 1998 to 2001, then in the weird years of 2003 2007 and 2015 on 2015 and 2015, NCAA Putra Basketball Tournament (held four times, including 2011), Classic Roundball, and Great Eight Classic.
Arena is the Bulls' home during their second run of three consecutive championships, hosting the 1996, 1997, and 1998 NBA Finals. The Bulls won the 1996 and 1997 series in the sixth game at home, but won the 1998 series at the Delta Center, now known as the Vivint Smart Home Arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
United Center was also the venue of the SummerSlam World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view in 1994 - the first major event held in the building, and also the only major event held in the building by WWE. It also hosted the last of the annual Spring Stampede pay-per-view World Championship Wrestling in 2000. On March 3, 2018, WWE returned to the United Center for the first time in more than 20 years with the Road To WrestleMania House show.
Arena has hosted the Stanley Cup Final three times: in 2010, 2013, and 2015. The Blackhawks won the first two Stanley Cups on their opponents es in the sixth game of the series (Philadelphia Wachovia Center in 2010 and Boston TD Garden in 2013). However, they won the 2015 series against Tampa Bay Lightning at home in the sixth game, the first time since the 1938 Hawks to win the Cup in Chicago.
On the weekend of 5-6 March 2011, the Professional Bull Riders made their Built Ford Tough Series debut at United Center. This is their third Chicago area visit, having previously visited the Allstate Arena in Rosemont in 2006 and 2008. The show at United Center presents a unique scenario instead of dirt, a white crushed stone used to cover the floor of the arena.
Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita received a bronze statue to honor him outside the United Center during the 2011-12 NHL season.
The Illinois State High School Hockey Championships are held at the United Center annually for the Blackhawk Cup.
On January 28, 2012, the Ultimate Fighting Championship held its first national television show in the arena: UFC at Fox. UFC at Fox 2 is the 2nd direct UFC live show in Fox. The headlining bout is a former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, with Evans winning with a unanimous decision. UFC announced in mid-January 2015 that United Center will host UFC at Fox 16. United Center also hosts UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Dodson in 2013 and UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Thomson in 2014.
On June 9, 2018, United Center hosted UFC 225 which was his first PPV event.
In September 2018, United Center will host the second edition of the Laver Cup. The tennis competition will feature vs. European teams. World Team.
In 2020 it will host the NBA All-Star Game.
Entertainment
- Concert
With a seating capacity of 23,500 for the concert, United Center has been home to many concert performances. The first is Billy Joel, who states "... acoustics can use some work." Prince, The Smashing Pumpkins, Kanye West, Madonna, U2, Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Sir Paul McCartney, Janet Jackson, The Who, Pearl Jam, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige have sold out for their concert in this arena, as well as Dave Matthews Band, who released the 1998 event on the spot, entitled Live in Chicago 12.19.98 at United Center.
- Family events
United Center also provides Chicago homes for Ringling Bros and Barnum & amp; Bailey Circus (last appearance is 2016, and they are permanently closed on May 21, 2017) and Disney on Ice, which happens once per year; Bulls and Blackhawks have a tradition of traveling two weeks when the circus is in town. In 2018, Disney on Ice has a condensed UC event from two weeks to a week.
- Television show
On May 17, 2011, Oprah Political events
The United Center is also home to the 1996 Democratic National Convention, where the Democrats are nominated as presidential candidates and vice-presidents Bill Clinton and Al Gore, the incumbent holders of their respective offices, which will be re-elected as a result of the general election held in November.
Remodeling
300 Level
New for the 2009-10 season, Level 300 United Center has a renovated conference room with 144 flat-screen TVs, new food and beverage stations on selected seats and two new bars open for panoramic views of the arena. During off season 2010, two additional bars with panorama arena were added along with the other two. After the 2012-13 season, a third panoramic LED bar is installed around the 300 level, replacing the famous "Welcome To The Madhouse" sign.
United Center includes:
- New menu items provided by United Center's new food and beverage providers, Levy Restaurants.
- The new concession stand and the seating area located in Section 326 is called "Backstage." This area replicates the atmosphere of being backstage at the United Center concert and will include photos of the music acts being played at United Center along with a special menu from Levy Restaurants.
- New concession stands and a bar located at the top of Level 300 on the north side of the arena to provide fans seated in the area with easy access to food and beverage services.
- Two new areas carrying unique merchandise for "The Madhouse on Madison".
- New concourse food station with upgraded seating.
- New video system featuring photography, video, and animation on concourse walls that will create special drawings and programming for each individual event.
Hardwood flooring
A new court was added to UC for the 2015-16 season and includes some changes. The iconic bullhead logo in the court center has increased by 75% and basketball images previously behind the logo have been removed. The text "CHICAGO BULLS" on the end line has been changed to the font used in the official Bulls logo to make the court design more consistent with the Bulls brand, and the same font has been applied to "Bulls.com" and "@ChicagoBulls" text in the north apron court. The lines in the court have changed from red and white to black to emphasize the bold colors of the Bulls brand. Four stars from the Chicago City flag have been added to the southern apron of the court to highlight team pride and combine the branding campaign "Chicago Basketball".
Banner
The following banners hung from the ceiling of United Center which honors the Bulls and Blackhawks in the past and present.
Bulls
Championship banner
- 1974-75 Midwest Division Champion
- 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1995-96 *, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2010-11, 2011-12 Champions Division Center
- 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 Eastern Conference Conference
- 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 NBA World Champions
- The banner with the number 72 hanged under the 1995-96 division title to show the Bulls record of season 72-10.
Blackhawks
Championship banner
- 1969-70 champions Eastern Division
- 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73 Champions Division West
- 1975-76, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80 Smythe Division Champions
- 1982-83, 1985-86, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1992-93 Norris Division Champions
- 2009-10, 2012-13 Division Central Champion
- 1970-71, 1972-73, 1991-92 Campbell Conference Champions
- 2009-10, 2012-13, 2014-15 Western Conference Area
- 1990-91 *, 2012-13 * Hero of the President Cup
- 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015 Stanley Cup Champions
- Banners with 2012-13 hung under the flag of the 1990-91 Presidential Banner, marking the second time the Blackhawks won the trophy.
Sponsors
United Airlines pays approximately $ 1.8 million annually until 2014 for its naming rights. United joined Continental Airlines in October 2010, maintaining the logo and look of the Continental company. Arena continues to use the United tulip logo during the 2010-11 season. For the 2011-12 season, all of United's previous signs were replaced with the globe logo. Two new blazing signs on the east and west end of the arena say "United Center" with the globe in the midst revealed under the top level suites praising the former "Madhouse" signs on the north and south sides.
In December 2013, it was announced that an agreement had been reached to keep United's naming rights for the arena for 20 years. United Center will see a series of updates and improvements to the interior and exterior of the building. New alerts, additional LED boards, and other elements have been added after reaching this agreement. The LED display has been installed on the north side of the arena along with a panorama LED board at level 300, omitting the "Welcome To The Madhouse" sign.
Anheuser-Busch has also established sponsorship. They partnered with the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks and earned the right to sign in the arena along with the pub.
Seating capacity
Record presence
Ice hockey: 22.690, October 25, 2008, against Detroit Red Wings.
See also
- Gene Honda - Public address announcer for Blackhawks, DePaul Basketball, Chicago White Sox and NCAA Division Men I Basketball Championship Final Four.
- List of indoor arenas in the United States
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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