Music venue expected to be centerpiece of $7 billion development project near United Center

<p>Details of the new 6,000-seat music venue planned around the United Center as part of a $7 billion privately funded redevelopment project were released on Friday.</p><p>The Music Hall, which is intended to “create a new type of music experience” in Chicago, is scheduled to open in 2028. Its design is meant to center live performances, unlike other Chicago venues, according to a news release.</p><p>Renderings released show a three-level “intimate” performances room, with panoramic stage views and dramatic lighting. The venue is also pictured to have a terrace overlooking the United Center, and dedicated community spaces. Audiences will be able to be seated near the stage to create a unique experience. Retail locations, multiple large bars and a flowing open outdoor space are planned.</p><p>It’s all part of the 1901 Project, an effort aimed at transforming over 55 acres around the United Center into an attractive mixed-use neighborhood. Construction officially <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/06/03/united-center-owners-wirtz-reinsdorf-break-ground-7-billion-1901-project" target="_blank" ><u>kicked off earlier</u></a> this summer. The Music Hall is an addition to a much larger plan to weave together new developments around the United Center.</p><p>Elected officials have called the project the largest private investment on the Near West Side.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-8d0000" name="image-8d0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/262812c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5120x2873+0+133/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc9%2F00%2Fc9dda81e4d63b716a1c3496fa4a5%2F09-music-hall-terrace-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a5a8d3f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5120x2873+0+133/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc9%2F00%2Fc9dda81e4d63b716a1c3496fa4a5%2F09-music-hall-terrace-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fd146d6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5120x2873+0+133/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc9%2F00%2Fc9dda81e4d63b716a1c3496fa4a5%2F09-music-hall-terrace-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="Music Hall " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fd146d6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5120x2873+0+133/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc9%2F00%2Fc9dda81e4d63b716a1c3496fa4a5%2F09-music-hall-terrace-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a8d218/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5120x2873+0+133/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc9%2F00%2Fc9dda81e4d63b716a1c3496fa4a5%2F09-music-hall-terrace-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fd146d6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5120x2873+0+133/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc9%2F00%2Fc9dda81e4d63b716a1c3496fa4a5%2F09-music-hall-terrace-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>A rendering shows the planned $7 billion mixed-use development that would surround the United Center.<br></p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>RIOS</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The owners of the arena, the Wirtz and Reinsdorf families, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2024/07/23/united-center-reinsdorf-wirtz-1901-project-housing-entertainment-hall-retail-campus-arena" target="_blank" ><u>announced plans for the </u></a>project in 2024.</p><p>The United Center, home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, has guarded the Near West Side neighborhood since 1994, and is the second-busiest arena in the country, according to the project’s development team.</p><p>Despite hosting 3 million guests annually for sports and concerts, a sea of surface parking lots have become what the surrounding area is known for.</p><p>The lots are only <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2024/10/02/united-center-1901-project-transformation-break-ground-next-summer-wirtz-reinsdorf" target="_blank" ><u>half-full on a normal day</u></a>, according to Michael Reinsdorf, president and CEO of the Chicago Bulls. Those 55 acres of vacant parking will transform into restaurants, retail, entertainment and community space.</p><p>Residences with nearly 2,000 affordable units, and 1,309 total hotel rooms will be built.</p><p>The theater-style music venue will be steps away from a 180-key hotel with dining and retail, the release said.</p><p>The project has received support from elected officials, including Mayor Brandon Johnson.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-170000" name="image-170000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/127bb96/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4802x2695+159+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa5%2F93%2F058d318b4299b4e7e66f829cd889%2F01-exterior-music-hall-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ab1bc8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4802x2695+159+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa5%2F93%2F058d318b4299b4e7e66f829cd889%2F01-exterior-music-hall-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d177f4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4802x2695+159+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa5%2F93%2F058d318b4299b4e7e66f829cd889%2F01-exterior-music-hall-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="Music Hall at United Center" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d177f4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4802x2695+159+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa5%2F93%2F058d318b4299b4e7e66f829cd889%2F01-exterior-music-hall-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/913a256/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4802x2695+159+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa5%2F93%2F058d318b4299b4e7e66f829cd889%2F01-exterior-music-hall-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3d177f4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4802x2695+159+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa5%2F93%2F058d318b4299b4e7e66f829cd889%2F01-exterior-music-hall-credits-brickvisual-rios.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>A rendering of The Music Hall. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>RIOS</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>And in 2025, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2025/02/18/united-center-first-phase-1901-redevelopment-chicago-zoning-committee" target="_blank" ><u>the first phase of the project </u></a>— which includes the Music Hall — was unanimously approved in the City Council’s Zoning Committee.</p><p>In May, the City Council approved a <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/05/20/city-council-tax-break-united-center-entertainment-district" target="_blank" ><u>$54.7 million property tax break</u></a> for the project’s initial phase.</p><p>The Music Hall, hotel and retail spaces will be joined by two parking garages, with rooftop green space.</p><p>Further plans for the mixed-use transformation include public spaces and parks, housing, retail, hospitality, offices and transportation improvements, according to a release.</p><p><i>Contributing Abby Miller</i> </p>