Yes, you can just walk in. No ticket, no game, no charge.
That is the question everyone has, because the statue is inside a working sports arena and it is not obvious from outside that a member of the public is allowed through the door. You are. You walk into the atrium at Gate 4, and it is right there.
We went after a week at the Milwaukee Bucks camp in Brookfield, driving down with two kids who had spent five days being told to bend their knees on their jump shot and were about to meet a twelve-foot bronze man doing it perfectly.
Here is everything you need before you go — including the one timing detail that catches people out.
the Bucks Pro Shop at Fiserv Forum
Can you visit the Michael Jordan statue without a ticket?
The short answer
Yes. The Michael Jordan statue, officially titled The Spirit, stands in the atrium of the United Center at 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, and the atrium is open to the public free of charge — no game ticket and no tour booking required. Enter at Gate 4, in the east addition. The atrium is generally open daily from around 10am to 6pm, with longer hours on event days. Photography is allowed and encouraged.
The timing detail that catches people out
The statue and the shop keep different hours, and nobody mentions it.
| Typical hours | |
|---|---|
| The atrium (and the statue) | Around 10:00am – 6:00pm daily, extended on event days |
| Madhouse Team Store | Around 11:00am – 4:00pm |
Arrive at 10am and the shop may well be shut. If you have come for both — and most families with basketball kids have — aim for late morning, somewhere between 11am and 3pm, and you will comfortably get both.
Always check the United Center’s own site before you travel. Hours shift around games, concerts and private events, and this is a venue whose primary business is not tourism.
How to find it — the practical bit
Address: United Center, 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612 Entrance: Gate 4, the east addition — a 190,000 sq ft extension built in 2017 Cost: Free Time needed: 20–30 minutes for the statue, an hour if you are doing the shop properly
Getting there: the United Center sits on the West Side, not downtown, so it is a deliberate trip rather than something you walk past. CTA buses run along Madison Street; a rideshare from the Loop is short.
Parking: paid lots around the arena, plus street parking on and around Madison. On a non-event day this is straightforward. On a game night it is not, and it is expensive.
The statue itself
The Spirit was unveiled on 1 November 1994, in front of a national television audience, by Jordan himself alongside Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Larry King.
It is the work of sculptors Omri Amrany and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany, stands 12 feet tall, weighs 2,000 pounds, and sits on a five-foot black granite base. Jordan is caught mid-air, tongue out, ball raised, rising over two abstract defenders.
The inscription on the base reads: “The best there ever was. The best there ever will be.”
There is a second inscription most visitors miss. After Jordan’s second retirement in 1998, a passage from the film A River Runs Through It was added. Worth walking around the base to find it.
It has not always been indoors. From 1994 until 1 March 2017 the statue stood outside on Madison Street, exposed to Chicago winters, and that is the version most people picture. The move indoors was announced in 2015 and completed with the east addition.
The Madhouse Team Store
Right there in the atrium: 10,000 square feet, and — this surprises people — it sells Blackhawks merchandise as well as Bulls. The United Center is home to both, so expect roughly half the floor to be hockey.
What is worth knowing:
- Retro Jordan and Bulls jerseys are the main draw, alongside current-season kit
- Air Jordan apparel and Bulls collectibles
- An interactive jersey-design station where you can customise a shirt
- Plenty of kids’ sizing, which is not always true of arena stores
- Hats, mugs, mini basketballs — the small-souvenir end, which is where children actually spend their money
Our two came out with a mini basketball each and a Bulls T-shirt, which was the right call: the jerseys are expensive and they grow out of them.
What it was actually like with kids
Honestly? Better than I expected from something that is, at bottom, a statue in a lobby.
What worked was the scale. Twelve feet of bronze is genuinely imposing in a way a photograph does not convey, and both of ours immediately started trying to copy the pose and arguing about who was closer. That was most of the visit and it was enough.
What made it land was context. They had just spent a week at a camp being coached, so “this is the person everyone is measuring themselves against” meant something concrete rather than being a name from before they were born. If your kids play, show them a couple of minutes of footage on the drive over. If they do not, this is a photo stop and about fifteen minutes.
It is indoors, warm, free and has toilets, which on a Chicago day in either direction of the weather makes it more useful than it sounds.
Combining it with the rest of Chicago
The statue is a 20–30 minute stop and works best as part of something bigger. The West Loop food scene is the closest natural pairing — it is a short distance east and has some of the best eating in the city.
If you are building a Chicago trip around basketball or around family sightseeing, we have written up most of what we did:
Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
Shoreline architecture boat tour
the Home Alone filming locations
And if the whole trip is basketball-shaped:
basketball-themed family vacation guide
how to plan a family holiday around basketball
Where to Stay in Chicago When Visiting the Michael Jordan Statue
If you’re planning a basketball-themed trip to Chicago, choosing the right hotel can make your experience much easier — especially for families. The United Center is located on the West Side of Chicago, but many visitors prefer staying in central neighborhoods where they can easily explore attractions like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, The Magnificent Mile, and Chicago’s famous food scene.
Here are some great family-friendly hotel options to consider:
Hotels Near the United Center
If your main goal is attending a Chicago Bulls game, visiting the Michael Jordan statue, or taking a United Center tour, staying nearby can be convenient.
Hyatt House Chicago Medical/University District
A practical option for families looking for more space. Many rooms include kitchen facilities, making it easier when traveling with kids.
Why families like it:
- Spacious rooms and suites
- Breakfast options available
- Good choice for longer stays
- Convenient location for exploring the West Side
Best Area to Stay for First-Time Visitors: Downtown Chicago
For most families visiting Chicago for the first time, staying downtown is usually the best choice. You’ll be closer to the city’s main attractions and can combine the Michael Jordan statue visit with sightseeing.
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Located near the Riverwalk and Millennium Park, this is a popular choice for travelers who want to explore the city on foot.
Great for:
- Families visiting Chicago attractions
- First-time visitors
- Easy access to restaurants and public transport
Family-Friendly Hotels With More Space
When traveling with children, having extra room can make a big difference.
Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown/Loop
A good option for families who prefer apartment-style accommodation.
Highlights:
- Suite-style rooms
- Kitchen facilities
- Breakfast included
- Ideal for longer Chicago stays
A More Stylish Stay in the Heart of Chicago
Loews Chicago Hotel
A modern hotel close to many of Chicago’s biggest attractions, offering comfortable rooms and a great location for exploring the city.
Perfect if you want:
- A comfortable family base
- Walking distance to attractions
- A more premium Chicago experience
Is it worth going?
Yes, if you or your kids care about basketball even slightly, or if you are in Chicago with a spare hour and want something free and indoors. It is one of the most photographed things in the city for a reason.
No, if you are on a tight two-day first visit and have not done the Bean, the river or the Skydeck. It is on the West Side, it is a deliberate detour, and it is twenty minutes of looking at a statue.
The version that makes it genuinely good is going late morning so the shop is open, spending a bit of time finding the second inscription, and then eating in the West Loop afterwards. Done that way it is a proper half-morning rather than a photo and a shrug.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Michael Jordan statue without a game ticket?
Yes. The statue stands in the United Center atrium, which is open to the public free of charge with no game ticket and no tour booking required. Enter at Gate 4. Access can be restricted around major events, so check the United Center website if you are travelling on a game or concert day.
Where exactly is the Michael Jordan statue?
It is inside the United Center at 1901 W Madison St, Chicago, Illinois 60612, in the atrium of the east addition at Gate 4. It stood outside on Madison Street from 1994 until 1 March 2017, when it was moved indoors, so older guides and photographs show it in a different place.
What are the opening hours for the Michael Jordan statue?
The atrium is generally open daily from around 10am to 6pm, with extended hours on event days. The Madhouse Team Store inside keeps shorter hours, roughly 11am to 4pm, so arriving at opening time may mean the shop is still closed. Late morning is the safest window for both, and hours change around games and concerts.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. Visiting the statue and the team store is completely free. There is no ticket and no booking.
Who made the Michael Jordan statue and how big is it?
It was sculpted by Omri Amrany and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany and unveiled on 1 November 1994. The bronze stands 12 feet tall and weighs 2,000 pounds, mounted on a five-foot black granite base inscribed with the words “The best there ever was. The best there ever will be.”
Can I buy official Jordan merchandise at the United Center?
Yes. The Madhouse Team Store in the atrium is around 10,000 square feet and sells Air Jordan apparel, retro and current Bulls jerseys, collectibles and children’s sizes. It also stocks Chicago Blackhawks merchandise, since the United Center is home to both teams.
Is photography allowed at the Michael Jordan statue?
Yes. Photography and short videos are permitted and it is one of the most photographed spots in Chicago. The atrium is bright and indoors, so it photographs well in any weather.
