COVID-19 Vaccines Or Negative Test Required At United Center

CHICAGO — Fans of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks will need more than a ticket to attend home games.

Until further notice, proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test is now required for anyone aged 12 and up to attend an event at the United Center, arena representatives announced Thursday.

The new policy also applies to all performers, team employees and staff of the arena, which is jointly owned by the city's NBA and NHL franchises. Certain events may include additional coronavirus-related rules and regulations.

The sports leagues have yet to announce final health and safety guidelines for the upcoming season, and the United Center's rules are still subject to additional requirements from the leagues.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said there are currently no plans to impose a similar requirement across Illinois — or establish a vaccination-or-negative-test entry requirement to other businesses like restaurants and fitness centers, as some other parts of the country have done.

But Pritzker said he expected such policies to help reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

"Certainly if they choose to do that, I think that would be a very positive thing for bringing down the numbers," Pritzker said at a news conference Thursday in Chicago.

"That's not something that we're currently looking at doing, but again, we're watching these numbers closely," he said. "If we see them heading upward and if the trajectory — you know, an angle of ascent of cases — increases — then we would need to look at the menu of options to try to bring those numbers down."

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According to a statement announcing the United Center's new policy, the arena's air filters and ventilation have been upgraded extensively.

"Air handling units also have UV technology built in, to further treat and clean the air coming into the arena," it said. "All systems and protocols have been approved by the Chicago Medical Society’s team of infectious disease specialists which places the United Center as the gold standard for arenas and the safest indoor venue in Chicago."

Results from either rapid antigen or PCR testing will be acceptable, but there will be no testing available on site, according to arena representatives.

Either digital or printed proof of vaccination will be accepted for future events, including the photos of the original vaccination card or the CLEAR app health pass digital vaccine card.

Concerts planned for later this month have slightly different policies for unvaccinated attendees, according to the United Center's website.

The Sept. 7 Tame Impala and Sudan Archives performance allows for negative tests within 72 hours, while the Sept. 24 and Sept. 25 Harry Styles and Jenny Lewis show requires printed proof of a negative test within 48 hours of the event.

Masks are required for all attendees at the United Center over the age of 2 for anyone not actively eating or drinking, in accordance with the mandates issued by city and state public health authorities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 60 percent of Illinois residents aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.