United Center
United Center, known as “Madhouse on Madison”, is a basketball arena in Chicago, Illinois, home of the Chicago Bulls (NBA, Eastern Conference). It opened in 1994, making it 32 years old in 2026 and seats 20,917 for basketball. That makes it the largest arena in NBA.
Its record crowd is 22,819 (Feb 15, 1997, Blackhawks vs. Rangers).
Arena facts
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Home of
- Chicago Bulls
- Conference
- NBA · Eastern Conference · Central Division
- Opened
- 1994
- Capacity
- 20,917
- Nickname
- Madhouse on Madison
- Record crowd
- 22,819 (Feb 15, 1997, Blackhawks vs. Rangers)
- Also home to
- Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Chicago Sky (WNBA, some games) - Size rank in NBA
- 1st of 30
Famous games at United Center
- June 16, 1996: The 72-win Bulls beat Seattle 87-75 in Game 6 to win the NBA title, the first championship clinched in the building.
- June 1, 1997: Michael Jordan hit the buzzer-beater as the Bulls beat Utah 84-82 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
- June 13, 1997: Steve Kerr's late jumper off a Jordan pass helped the Bulls beat Utah 90-86 in Game 6 for their fifth title.
- Feb. 16, 2020: Weeks after Kobe Bryant's death, Team LeBron won the All-Star Game 157-155 with an Elam Ending target set in his honor; Kawhi Leonard was MVP.
Game night
Getting there. CTA 'L' stops nearby: Damen (Green), Ashland (Pink), Illinois Medical District (Blue).
Seating & views at United Center
United Center seats 20,917 for basketball, among the largest capacities in the NBA, and the Bulls led the league in attendance in 2023-24. The bowl has a 100-level lower bowl, a club level and a 300-level upper deck, with 169 executive suites on three levels. The Harris Club is an open premium lounge, and 32 theater boxes sit at the opposite end. The 300 level was renovated in 2009-10 with new bars that look into the bowl.
Parking & tailgating at United Center
The arena runs its own lettered surface lots, with preferred lots (A, B, D, F, MXC) and alternate lots (W, M, R, T, P, E). Buying ahead through Ticketmaster or SpotHero is cheaper than paying on site, and general lots open two and a half hours before tip. Tailgating is not allowed. The Uber zone is Lot E at Madison and Wood. CTA riders can use Damen (Green), Ashland/Lake (Green, Pink) or Illinois Medical District (Blue).
Plan your trip to United Center
Arenas near United Center10
- 1D-IJoseph J. Gentile Arena — Loyola Chicago Ramblers same city
- 2D-IWintrust Arena — DePaul Blue Demons same city
- 3D-ICredit Union 1 Arena — UIC Flames same city
- 4D-IEmil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center — Chicago State Cougars same city
- 5D-IWelsh–Ryan Arena — Northwestern Wildcats 13 mi
- 6G LeagueNow Arena — Windy City Bulls 33 mi
- 7D-IAthletics–Recreation Center — Valparaiso Beacons 41 mi
- 8D-IConvocation Center — Northern Illinois Huskies 56 mi
- 9D-IPurcell Pavilion at Edmund P. Joyce Center — Notre Dame Fighting Irish 75 mi
- 10NBAFiserv Forum — Milwaukee Bucks 84 mi
Questions about United Center
Where do the Chicago Bulls play home games?
The Chicago Bulls play at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
How many people does United Center hold?
United Center seats 20,917 for basketball.
When did United Center open?
United Center opened in 1994.
What is United Center’s nickname?
United Center is known as “Madhouse on Madison.”
What is the attendance record at United Center?
The record crowd at United Center is 22,819 (Feb 15, 1997, Blackhawks vs. Rangers).
What other arenas are near United Center?
Joseph J. Gentile Arena is also in Chicago. See the full list of nearby arenas on this page.
Facts are for the 2026–27 season. Distances are straight-line miles between city centers. Capacity figures vary by source. See something wrong? Let us know. Is this your arena? Get the “Listed on Hoops Arenas” badge for your website.