Encyclopedia o f Chicago
Entries : United Center
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United Center

United Center

The United Center opened on West Madison Avenue in 1994, replacing the Chicago Stadium as the home of the Bulls (National Basketball Association) and the Blackhawks (National Hockey League). In addition to professional and college sports, the United Center has hosted figure skating, circuses, concerts, and the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

Blackhawks owner William Wirtz and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf provided $175 million to build the arena, which seats between 20,500 and 25,000 depending on the event. At 960,000 square feet, the United Center was the largest arena in the United States at the end of the 1990s.