CTA offers a variety of travel options to fans heading to the United Center to cheer on the Bulls as they take on the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 is Sunday, May 15 at 7 p.m. and Game 2 is Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m.
CTA’s #19 United Center Express provides direct service to the United Center with buses operating every 12-15 minutes from Michigan and Randolph beginning 90 minutes before the start of each game. After each game #19 buses will await customers on the north side of the United Center eastbound on Madison near Gate 3 and will depart approximately every 15 minutes for one hour.
Temporary Changes in Routing for #19 Buses
Due to the Wacker Drive construction project, the following changes are in effect along the #19 route:
Eastbound #19 buses will operate over the regular route along Washington to Clinton then will travel via Clinton, Monroe, Franklin to Washington and then resume the regular route. In addition, the following temporary changes have been made to bus stops served by eastbound buses only:
- Clinton/Madison: buses are serving the southbound near side stop.
- Monroe/Canal: buses are serving the eastbound far side stop.
- Washington/Canal: buses are unable to serve the eastbound near side stop.
- Washington/Franklin: the eastbound near side stop has been relocated to a far side stop.
Westbound #19 buses are not affected and will travel over the regular route from Michigan/Randolph – making all stops on Madison from Wabash to Clinton and Halsted/Randolph before operating express to the United Center.
New Bus Stops Added
To improve service along the #19 route, the following bus stops have been permanently added to the route:
- Washington/Halsted: eastbound buses are serving the far side stop, currently served by #20 Madison buses.
- Randolph/Halsted: westbound buses are serving the new near side stop.
CTA’s #20 Madison bus route, which operates between Austin and Michigan, also provides direct service to the stadium as does the #50 Damen route which operates between Ashland/Clark and 35th/Archer. #20 Madison buses are undergoing temporary reroutes to adjacent streets near Wacker as a result of the Wacker Drive construction project.
In addition to the #19, #20 and #50 bus routes, customers also can reach the United Center via the Green and Pink lines. Both routes stop at the Ashland/Lake station which is just a few blocks east of the United Center.
Fans exiting at the Ashland/Lake station can transfer to #9 Ashland buses or simply walk a few blocks to the Madhouse on Madison.
The Blue Line is also an option to get to the United Center. The Illinois Medical District station on the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line is a few blocks south of the United Center, so riders may walk from the station to the United Center.
Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $2.00 to ride. For customers who pay cash on the bus, the fare is $2.25. Customers traveling to the United Center via the Green, Pink or Blue lines pay $2.25.
For details about all CTA service, call 312 836-7000.
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