In 1988, William Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Jerry Reinsdorf, majority owner and Team
Chairman of the Chicago Bulls, formed a new partnership to create an arena that would take sports and entertainment into the
21st century.
The United Center, home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, is the largest arena in the United States. Construction
was begun in April of 1992, with the ribbon cutting ceremony being held on August 18, 1994.
Since opening, the United Center has hosted over 200 events each year. Some of the events the United Center has been proud
to host include the 1996 Democratic National Convention, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street
Band, Paul McCartney, U2, The Who, The 3 Tenors, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, the Big
Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, the Great Eight Classic, DePaul College Basketball,
and Champions on Ice.
The United Center has hosted over twenty million guests since its opening in 1994.