Sub-area
Near United Center, West Loop
The Near United Center area sits on the western edge of the West Loop, between Ogden Avenue and Ashland Avenue, around the United Center arena at 1901 West Madison Street. The arena is the practice home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks; the surrounding blocks are quieter than the dining-focused West Loop core, but include a handful of pre-game restaurants and bars, a brewery taproom, and the Epiphany Center for the Arts. A major redevelopment — the $7 billion 1901 Project from the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families — is in early phases on the land around the arena and will reshape the area over the next 15 years.
Quick facts
- Span
- Between Ogden Avenue and Ashland Avenue, generally bounded north–south by the West Loop's edges
- Also known as
- West of Ogden · United Center area
- Part of
- West Loop, Chicago
History
The United Center opened on August 18, 1994, replacing the historic Chicago Stadium that stood a block north on West Madison from 1929 to 1994. The 960,000-square-foot arena has hosted two Democratic National Conventions (1996 and 2024) along with the Bulls and Blackhawks home schedules. Outside the arena, much of the immediately-surrounding land sat as surface parking lots for decades. In 2025, the City of Chicago's Plan Commission approved the 1901 Project — a $7 billion private investment from the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families covering 55 acres of land around the arena. Phase one (2025–2028) is a $400 million southwest-corner build that includes a 6,000-seat music hall with a rooftop park.
Today
On a non-game day, the area is quiet — small contractors, a few restaurants and bars, the Goose Island taproom, the Epiphany Center for the Arts (a multi-venue arts campus built into an 1885 cathedral at Ashland and Adams), and a small cluster of catering kitchens. On game days, traffic and pre-game bar density spike: Billy Goat Tavern on West Madison is the long-running pre-game stop, and Cobra Lounge hosts touring bands the same evenings. The 1901 Project is in early construction; expect significant change to the area over the next decade.
Pre-game restaurants and bars
Within walking distance of the arena, traditionally busy on Bulls and Blackhawks nights.
- Billy Goat Tavern (Madison) Open now The Madison Street Billy Goat Tavern — the pre-game and post-game spot on the walk between the United Center and the Madison Row corridor.1535 W Madison St, Chicago, IL, 60607
- LA Lagartija Authentic Mexican on West Jackson — a quieter sit-down option for a pre-game dinner.132 S Ashland Ave 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
Breweries and music
Two breweries and a long-running rock club, all west of Ogden.
- Goose Island Beer Company The original Goose Island brewery on North Fulton — Chicago craft-beer history with a tap room.1800 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL, 60612
- Cobra Lounge / All Rise Brewing CO. Cobra Lounge rock venue paired with All Rise Brewing on North Ashland — punk-rock booking, brewery-tied beer list.235 N Ashland Ave 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
Arts and recreation
The cultural and active-recreation anchors of the area.
- Epiphany Center for the Arts A multi-venue arts campus at Ashland and Adams, built into an 1885 cathedral — performances, gallery shows, weddings.201-211 S Ashland Ave 1, Chicago, IL, 60607
- Blackhawk Community Ice Rink, LLC The Chicago Blackhawks' practice home plus a community ice center for lessons and public skating.1801 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60612
- Ace Golf Club Members-only indoor golf simulator club on Justine Street.219 N Justine St, Chicago, IL, 60607
Coffee and quick
For a coffee or fast meal away from the dining-row crowds.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the United Center?
- The United Center is at 1901 West Madison Street, on the western edge of the West Loop / Near West Side. It opened in August 1994 and is the home arena of the Chicago Bulls (NBA) and Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), and the largest NBA arena by capacity (20,917 for basketball, 19,717 for hockey, up to 23,500 for concerts).
- What is the 1901 Project?
- The 1901 Project is a $7 billion, 55-acre, 15-year redevelopment of the land around the United Center, announced by the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families and approved by Chicago's Plan Commission in 2025. At build-out (target 2040), the project will deliver about 9,400 residential units, 1,300 hotel rooms, retail, and public open space. Phase one (2025–2028) is a $400 million southwest-corner build that includes a 6,000-seat music hall with a rooftop park.
- Where should I eat before a Bulls or Blackhawks game?
- For a quick pre-game bar, Billy Goat Tavern on West Madison is the long-running walk-from-the-Loop stop. La Lagartija on West Jackson is the sit-down option for a quieter dinner. The Goose Island Beer Company tap room on North Fulton is the brewery option. Most West Loop dining-row restaurants on Randolph and Fulton are about a 15-20 minute walk east — see /best/restaurants for the curated list.
- How do I get to the United Center by transit?
- There's no L station at the United Center itself. CTA buses #20 (Madison) and #19 (United Center Express, game days only) run from downtown. The CTA Ashland station (Green and Pink Lines) is about a 15-minute walk south, and the Illinois Medical District Blue Line stop is a similar walk southwest. The 1901 Project plans include a potential new Pink Line station for the area.
- What was here before the United Center?
- The United Center sits one block south of the old Chicago Stadium, which stood at 1800 West Madison from 1929 to 1994. The Chicago Stadium hosted the original Bulls dynasty (Jordan-era championships in 1991, 1992, 1993) and the Blackhawks for decades. It was demolished after the United Center opened in August 1994; the site is now a surface parking lot, slated for redevelopment as part of the 1901 Project.