RELEASE: United Center to Welcome Back Fans Beginning May 7

The United Center received permission from city and state government officials to welcome fans back to the arena for Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls home games beginning May 7, 2021. The teams will each host fans at the arena at approximately 25 percent capacity, starting with the May 7 Bulls game against the Boston Celtics and May 9 Blackhawks game against the Dallas Stars. Ticket information will be released by the teams directly, alongside more detailed FAQs on the modified gameday experience and new health & safety protocols outlined below.

"The health and safety of our fans, players and staff remains our top priority and we would like to thank Governor Pritzker, Mayor Lightfoot, the State of Illinois and City of Chicago Department of Public Health for their partnership in bringing fans back to the United Center," said Chicago Bulls President and COO Michael Reinsdorf and Chicago Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz. "Throughout the pandemic, this collective group has worked tirelessly to find ways for our facility to help support our community through regional and national relief efforts. Fans can be confident that same effort and attention to detail have been at the forefront of plans for their return, and we -- especially our players -- are excited to have their energy back inside the United Center on gameday."
The Blackhawks and Bulls will take a phased-in approach to hosting fans. Beginning May 1, the teams will host a few hundred player family members and team-invited guests only until welcoming the general public back to the arena on May 7.

As part of the United Center's reopening to fans, the arena and teams are implementing increased health and safety protocols at every step of the fan's journey on gameday in accordance with all NBA, NHL, Centers for Disease Control, and state and local guidelines.

BEFORE COMING TO THE ARENA

• Pre-Arrival Health Screening:New for the 2021 Season, the Blackhawks and Bulls are partnering with Health Pass by CLEAR to help fans enter the United Center and confirm their COVID-19 health screening requirements before the game. Within the app, all fans will be required to complete the quick health questionnaire within the 12-hour window leading up to every tipoff or puck drop.
• Mobile Ticketing: All tickets for both teams will be distributed as mobile tickets to aid in the contactless entry process. No paper tickets will be distributed.
• No Bag Policy: To minimize touchpoints, bags will not be allowed in the arena this season regardless of their size, with limited exceptions to be made for medical bags or diaper bags.

AT THE UNITED CENTER

Additionally, the United Center has taken the following steps to provide an environment that minimizes the spread of COVID-19 as fans enjoy the game.
The United Center is going through the process of achieving
WELL Health-Safety
certification by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), signifying to everyone entering the space that evidence-based measures have been adopted and third-party verified. The arena is also pursuing
Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR ™ Facility Accreditation
, the gold standard of outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for prepared facilities. The GBAC STAR means the United Center has established and maintained a cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks; has the proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious diseases; and has highly informed cleaning professionals who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response.