The United Center needs an L station badly. Over 6,000 parking spots in the area around the United Center[1] may make driving convenient, but it also put the United Center in the running for last year’s annual Parking Madness award for “parking craters that have obliterated cities,” tabulated each year by StreetsBlog USA.[2] Indeed, this area in the Near West Side neighborhood is an asphalt desert, with empty lots and abandoned buildings neighboring this parking expanse.[3] These parking lots are far from fully-utilized on non-game days, yet they lie less than two miles from the Loop and could otherwise be valuable land for local business development. But the amount of parking around United Center is necessitated by the relative inaccessibility of the arena from public transit – the nearest L stops are the Ashland-Lake pink/green line and the Illinois Medical District blue line — both around 12 minutes by foot from the stadium[4]. Further, congestion on the streets after the games makes bus transport less than desirable with long waits in the often frigid winter air. Many folks instead opt to take a taxi, burning more fossil fuels, spending extra money and contributing to congestion.
The Pink Line runs within the range of a Derrick Rose jump-shot from the United Center, and the Green Line is not much further. So why isn’t there a convenient stop for fans before and after games, and for Near West Side residents? A conspicuous 1.5-mile gap between Ashland-Lake and California on the Green Line highlights an opportunity for an infill station at Damen and Lake. The headquarters of the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, a small-business incubator and hub for employment (500 jobs under one roof), education, and innovation in the neighborhood, sits right next door — as out of reach of the L as the United Center.[5] A new apartment building across the street[4] and a plethora of small businesses supporting this burgeoning residential and commercial area represent significant support for a new station at this location.
(Greenfield, John. View of United Center from Pink Line, where the train does not stop. From [4])
Many professional sports teams have taken it upon themselves to incentivize fans to travel greener – whether it’s public transportation, cycling, or carpooling. The goal is to cut down on traffic to and from the games, thus lowering the environmental footprint of the sporting activity. During the NBA’s Green Week, for instance, the New Orleans Pelicans provided free parking for the first 100 cars carrying four or more people to the Arena, and rewarded the next 250 carpoolers with a $10 gas card courtesy of Chevron.[6] MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers formed a partnership with the public transit authority to operate an express bus from downtown Los Angeles to the stadium – much like the CTA’s #19 United Center Express which runs from the Loop to the arena on game nights – but in Los Angeles, Dodger tickets are honored as fare payment.[7] Encouraging use of mass transit reduces carbon emissions, smog, traffic congestion, and accidents. Emissions per passenger mile traveled on heavy rail (like the L) are a quarter of the emissions from driving.[6]
But a public-private partnership between the United Center’s ownership group (made up of the Bulls and the Blackhawks) could have a much larger impact beyond traffic reduction. In 2010, Apple, Inc. partnered with the CTA to fund $3.9 million of the North and Clybourn Red Line station renovations.[8] The high visibility of this initiative garnered positive press coverage, and Apple’s advertising covered the walls, giving them a great opportunity to promote their brand and their support for the community. Like the Red Line’s Sox-35th station, the United Center could put their name on the CTA’s map, announcing their easily-accessible presence.
Reducing demand for parking will free up some of the United Center’s parking crater, and this is where the benefits get big. This valuable space near downtown Chicago is a prime spot for development by restaurants and local businesses, creation of sustainable green spaces like parks and playgrounds, and a complete overhaul of the arena’s aesthetic – from an asphalt desert to an inviting, aesthetically-pleasing center for fans to congregate and celebrate before and after games. By freeing up parking space by incentivizing and supporting other means of travel, the United Center can improve fan experience, make a financial return by leasing land for development, and help the environment by keeping cars off the street. They can do all this while also giving back to the neighborhood the Bulls and Blackhawks play in, helping revitalize the Near West Side. Now that’s a win-win-win-win.
[1] “United Center Directions.” Chicago Blackhawks. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=47011
[2] Schmitt, Angie. “It’s ON! Parking Madness 2014 Kicks Off With Chicago vs. Denver.” StreetsBlog USA. March 19, 2014. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://usa.streetsblog.org/2014/03/19/its-on-parking-madness-2014-kicks-off-with-chicago-vs-denver/
[3] “Near West Neighborhood Research and Data.” Reconnecting Neighborhoods. August 2008. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://reconnectingneighborhoods.org/neighborhood/nearwest/research.asp
[4] Greenfield, John. “Training for the Big Game: Why Is There No ‘L’ Stop at the United Center?” April 22, 2014. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://chi.streetsblog.org/2014/04/22/training-for-the-big-game-why-is-there-no-l-stop-at-the-united-center/
[5] New Orleans Pelicans. “Hornets do their part during NBA’s Green Week.” Sports NOLA. April 6, 2009. Accessed February 22, 2014. http://sportsnola.com/hornets-do-their-part-during-nbas-green-week
[6] “Dodger Stadium Express.” Los Angeles Dodgers. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ballpark/transportation/index.jsp?content=express
[7] Hodges, Tina. “Public Transportation’s Role In Responding To Climate Change.” Federal Transit Administration. January 2009. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/PublicTransportationsRoleInRespondingToClimateChange.pdf.
[8] Schmich, Mary. “It’s Already the Apple Red Line Stop.” Chicago Tribune. October 22, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2015. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-10-22/news/ct-met-schmich-1022-20101022_1_cta-station-apple-products-apple-store.