Chicago’s United Center Has It All
Of all the entertainment venues in Chicago – and there are many great spots – perhaps one of the most diverse is the United Center. Not only do the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks call it home, but plenty of other big names stop by for visits.
In 2011, the Bulls and Blackhawks will play out their seasons with a smattering of other events sprinkled into the schedule.
Riding the momentum from their most recent number one album, A Thousand Suns, Linkin Park will hit the United Center on January 26 as part of their tour. This latest offering has already yielded two hit tunes in “The Catalyst” and “Waiting for the End,” and the band plans on offering up the same mojo in their concerts.
Front man Chester Bennington says, “The new songs work really well alongside the older stuff. Plus, there’s a strong, powerful message to A Thousand Suns, and we’ve transferred that into the show. Our aim was that we’re not just putting on a live performance, but something that’s visually spectacular as well.”
For something more family-oriented, Disney On Ice Presents Pixar’s Toy Story 3 at the United Center on February 2-13. The tale features Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the whole Toy Story clan as they escape from Sunnyside Daycare and try to make their way home.
Then it’s back to the rock, Kid Rock, to be precise. The Born Free tour lands in Chicago on February 26 shortly after his big 40th birthday celebration in Detroit. For the upcoming tour, Kid Rock is aiming high and true.
He explains, “I went on the merit of the music alone the last few years. This time we’re taking out a set. I’m like, ‘I got the music. Now let me give the people something to see,’ so we’re trying to figure out how do we create this set where it can turn into fire and strippers… and have an acoustic thing in the middle that’s truly heartfelt and we can do our country thing.”
Just after that, Lady Gaga will turn the United Center into a Monster Ball on February 28. Despite having to cancel some gigs earlier this year due to exhaustion, it seems Gaga got her groove back. She’s since added a string of dates in 2011, including this one in Chicago.
Tickets for Bon Jovi’s March 8-9 stand will surely go fast as Jon Bon Jovi told Billboard a few weeks ago that this will be the band’s last hurrah.
Once the summer leg of the tour wraps up, Jon says, “I’m going to sit on the beach for August, which is usually what I do and come September figure out what’s next.”
He even showed his hand for some of the possibilities: “A smaller-sounding solo record and/or focus more on the philanthropy and sports ownerships.
“I don’t see any acting in the immediate future. It’ll be out of the political cycles, and there’s nothing else I wish I could do. I’m not a coulda, shoulda, woulda kind of guy. If I wanted to do it, I tried it, so it’s not like I have any hidden desire to become a chef or anything.”
Also in March, the United Center will host the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament March 18-20.
For most, if not all, of your Chicago sports and concert needs, the United Center is the answer.