Statues of Chicago sporting legends Bobby Hull, Michael Jordan and Stan Mikita greet visitors to the stadium's east side, while assorted statues of the city's beloved Blackhawks adorn the north side. Inside, bronze busts are on display, including Bulls legends Johnny "Red" Kerr and Jordan's sidekick Scottie Pippen. In sheer size, the United Center is the largest in the United States (960,000 square feet), stands 300 feet high, and has varying seating capacities for individual events; Concerts 23,500, basketball 20,917 (standing room capacity 23,129), and ice hockey 19,717 (standing room maximum 22,248).
The brainchild of Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and the late Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz, the stadium has become renowned for the almost unbearable din created by the roar of the loyal fans, which is helped by the unique acoustic design that amplifies "The Roar," which has reached as high as a recorded 122 decibels. Service facilities are in abundance, with 6,500 parking spaces, 50 restrooms, 9 elevators, 8 escalators and almost 2,000 doors. As much a tourist attraction as an events facility, one of the stadium's more popular attractions is the Hall of Fame. Contained in this much-visited section which is part of both the Blackhawks and Bulls official team store are displays featuring five NBA Championship rings, the original player contract signed by Jordan, Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves, and many more cherished items of Chicago sporting lore.
In its 20-plus years as a signature component of both the Windy City's landscape as well as its sporting history, the United Center has seen an estimated 40 million visitors pass through its impressive portals, and that number is certain to increase well into the 21st century.