Mayor Rahm Emanuel, city officials, and chairmen for the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks banded together for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the United Center, unveiling it’s new 190,000 square-foot, privately funded addition.
Announced in 2015, the brand new atrium is meant to function as a gathering place for fans and visitors before, during, and after games. The new office space on the second, third, and fourth floors will house employees of the United Center, Levy Restaurant Group, and of the Bulls and Blackhawks teams.
Don’t like the hike to the United Center? You’re in luck, because a brand-new ‘L’ stop is underway.
The bright, custom-decorated atrium on the east end of the building has an LED ribbon board circulating the perimeter, and its centerpiece is the familiar Michael Jordan statue which previously sat on the building’s exterior alongside statues of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. The all-new office floors include lounge space, conference rooms, and a café and gym for on-site employees.
The atrium will operate on event days from 10am to one hour past event conclusions. It will operate on non-event days from 10am – 6pm. It can be accessed at Gate 3 1/2 and between Gates 4 and 5. The space can be privately booked as well.
There’s still plenty in store for the United Center’s future, including a Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks retail store that will open in the atrium this summer, a sky lounge, more bars, more club room space, and additional parking lots. These additions are taking place in conjunction with the development of a new, state-of-the-art Chicago Blackhawks community training facility, which is also privately funded and anticipated to draw in more tourism for the Near West Side.
Featured Image Courtesy of United Center.
