United Center Game Day Guide
Chicago Blackhawks · Chicago, IL
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.
- Bag storage
Binbox lockers and bag-check service are in the Uber Zone near Madison Street and Wood Street.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Binbox is the arena's only approved storage option for bags inside or outside United Center.
- 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.
- Mobile tickets
Mobile tickets are required for Blackhawks entry; printed PDFs and screenshots are not accepted.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Use the Blackhawks app, Account Manager, or Ticketmaster and add the ticket to a phone wallet before arrival.
- Re-entry
Re-entry is prohibited during all United Center events.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Prohibited items
United Center prohibits weapons, explosives, pepper spray, drones, laser devices, noisemakers, detachable-lens cameras, GoPros, laptops and tablets, outside food or drink, poles, projectiles, selfie sticks, umbrellas, and other listed items.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- AI-enabled recording glasses and most bags are also prohibited; event-specific restrictions may be added.
- First aid
First Aid stations staffed by registered nurses are across from Sections 115 and 116 on the 100 Level and Sections 327 and 328 on the 300 Level.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Nursing and lactation
A private nursing room is near Sections 112 and 113 at Gate 7.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Visit the Guest Relations booth at Gate 6 to request the keypad access code.
- Family restrooms
Family restrooms are inside First Aid across from Sections 115 and 116 and at the top of Sections 303 and 304.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Tickets for children
Children under 36 inches tall do not need a Blackhawks ticket but must remain on an adult's lap, with one child per lap.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Guest services
Guest Relations booths are at Gates 2 and 6, Section 221, and Section 325.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Service animals
Certified service animals and service animals in training for guests with disabilities are permitted.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
- Smoking and vaping
Smoking of any type is prohibited inside the arena and across the United Center campus.
Applies to: Chicago Blackhawks games
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at United Center, hour by hour.
Pregame in the West Loop
Head to Randolph Street or Fulton Market for pregame dinner. The West Loop is Chicago's premier restaurant district and just a quick rideshare to the arena.
Arrive at the United Center
Park in the arena lots and walk the grounds. The Michael Jordan statue and Stan Mikita statue greet you at the main entrance.
Doors open
Enter the arena and watch warm-ups. The Blackhawks' pre-game production and anthem tradition are legendary. Don't miss them.
The anthem
Settle into your seat early. The roar during the national anthem at the United Center is one of the iconic traditions in all of hockey.
Game time
Three 20-minute periods with two intermissions. The building gets loud, 19,700 strong. Chelsea Dagger blasts after every Blackhawks goal.
Hit the concourse
Grab an Italian beef or a Goose Island IPA. Concourse is wide with plenty of food options at every level.
Head east
The lots clear out within 30-45 minutes. Rideshare to the West Loop for a nightcap or hop on Madison Street toward downtown.
Tips & Fan Reports
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.
The national anthem at the United Center is a legendary experience. Fans roar through the entire song. Arrive in your seat for it.
The United Center is in a primarily residential/industrial area, pregame and postgame dining is better in the West Loop.
Chelsea Dagger (by the Fratellis) plays after every Blackhawks goal. Learn it, sing it, wave your arms. It's non-negotiable.
The national anthem at the United Center is a legendary experience. Arrive early and stand for the full crowd roar.
West Loop restaurants (10-15 min walk east) are dramatically better than arena food. Au Cheval, Girl & the Goat, and dozens more.
Weather
United Center is indoor, so these are the conditions for the parking lot and the walk in, not the seats.
Across the NHL season the warmest month is October, with an average high of 63°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 19°F. April is the wettest month at 3.6 inches and January the driest at 1.5 inches.
That January low ranks 7th coldest of the 32 NHL venues, and April here ranks 19th wettest.
October
3.5 inchesNovember
2.4 inchesJanuary
1.5 inchesMarch
1.9 inchesApril
3.6 inchesChicago Blackhawks Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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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.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: Doors for Blackhawks games normally open 90 minutes before the event start time.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current United Center FAQ, accessibility, and parking pages plus the Blackhawks mobile-ticket guide reviewed for Chicago Blackhawks game-day policies.