Chicago Blackhawks
United Center, Chicago, IL
- Capacity
- 19,717
- Roof
- Indoor
- Surface
- Ice
- Opened
- 1994
- Tickets
- $35+
- Parking
- $15+
- Beer
- $12+
- Food
- $7+
- Est. total
- $69+
Against the other 31 NHL arenas, United Center is the joint 23rd cheapest game day: 25th for tickets, joint 18th for parking and joint 20th for food and drink, compared on market ticket medians and published lot and menu prices in US dollars. See the full ranking.
Prices are estimates. See our methodology.
What to Expect
The United Center sits on Chicago's near west side, surrounded by surface parking lots rather than the dense downtown core. The Blackhawks pregame scene happens inside the arena and in the West Loop restaurants a mile east. The Michael Jordan statue stands outside the east entrance, every fan stops for a photo. Plan to arrive 60-90 minutes early. The arena is massive (19,700+ for hockey) and the crowd brings serious energy, especially for Original Six rivalry nights against Detroit or St. Louis.
View Seating GuideTips & Fan Reports
Best seats to watch hockey are the top level first few rows. Very little obstruction and you get to see the whole game unfold. The jumbotron covers anything you might miss.
Parking is free for events if you buy something at Billy Goat Tavern. Also check out Pequod's for pizza - it is the official Blackhawks bar and the deep dish is legendary.
Walk around the 100 level and check stuff out. The Blackhawks Foundation often has a table with special merch and auction items including $30 mystery pucks. The new atrium has cool memorabilia too.
Club seat members can be inside two hours early via Gate 7, which is the only published early-entry route.
Three rail stops on four lines are in range: Damen on the Green, Ashland/Lake on the Green and Pink, Illinois Medical District on the Blue.
Lexus Club members can buy from every concession stand on the 100, 200 and 300 concourses, which is a genuine perk in a building this size.
The bag policy is a total ban — not a size limit. Purses, small clutches and even handheld wallets are all refused, with exceptions only for medical bags and for diaper bags when an infant is present.
No tailgating policy is published for the lots, and there is no designated tailgate area.
From the Damen stop it is two blocks south and one block east — the shortest rail walk.
Tap-to-pay works on every CTA train and bus; no ticket needed.
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- Bag policy
A small purse or personal bag up to 10 x 6 x 2 inches is permitted; backpacks and other bags are not.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Required medical equipment and qualifying medical bags are exceptions after screening.
- Gate opening
Doors for Blackhawks games normally open 90 minutes before the event start time.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Check the event page for the specific opening time.
- Venue payments
Food, beverage, and merchandise purchases are cashless; accepted methods include credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Re-entry
Re-entry is prohibited during all United Center events.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
Guides for United Center
- Game Day Guide
7 steps from arrival to puck drop, and 21 venue rules checked against official sources.
- Parking Guide
2 lots and garages with distances and entry routes, from $15.
- Pregame Guide
3 bars, patios and plazas near United Center to fill the hours before doors.
- Food & Drinks
24 concession stands and 59 items researched from the venue's own menus, cheapest food $7 and drink $6.
- Seating Guide
7 seating areas at United Center, with the level names printed on the ticket.
- Getting There
Driving routes plus every car-free way in — the cheapest is CTA Bus #20 Madison, $2.25.
- Cost Calculator
Build a total for your own party using United Center's stored figures.
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Venue facts
Wikipedia / Official Venue Page
- Parking prices
United Center official rate, stated twice independently: arenacapacity ('official United Center parking costs $24 prepaid through the venue website') and prked ('general parking in official lots is around $24 for regular-season games'). Stored figure matches. West Loop garage figure not re-checked.
- Drink prices
United Center 2026: domestic draft $12 at Blackhawks games, against $12.49 at Bulls games in the same building
- Venue policies
Current United Center FAQ, accessibility, and parking pages plus the Blackhawks mobile-ticket guide reviewed for Chicago Blackhawks game-day policies.
Not yet checked against a published source
These figures are estimates. Most venues no longer publish the numbers behind them — concession and ticket pricing moved to dynamic marketplaces — so we hold them as estimates rather than dating them as verified.
- Ticket prices — Secondary market averages (SeatGeek/StubHub)
- Food prices — Team Marketing Report FCI + venue research
Chicago Blackhawks Fan Gear
Jerseys, hats, and licensed Chicago Blackhawks gear, delivered before game day.
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