United Center owners announce plans for $7B renovation project around arena

CHICAGO — The United Center owners announced on Tuesday plans for a $7 billion major renovation and addition project.

If approved, the estimated 10-year project would completely transform the look and feel around the Near West Side arena.

The Chicago-Suntimes first reported the project, dubbed The 1901 Project. The Sun-Times says if all goes as planned, construction on the project could get underway as early as next year.

The plan was devised by Chicago White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and the late Blackhawks owner Rockey Wirtz.

Wirtz died in July of last year.

The project would span 55-acres around the United Center and would include green space, mixed income housing, a music hall, and a parking facility that would include a 10-acre park on the roof.

Photo renderings of The 1901 Project:

The Sun-Times recently reported Reinsdorf has been buying up parking lots close to the United Center.

The project is expected to generate thousands of both construction jobs and permanent jobs, once it is completed.

Right now, the project is not seeking any government money to complete.

The United Center is about 30-years-old and was also not built with public money. It hosts about three million people a year.

The next big event at the venue will be the Democratic National Convention next month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.