CTA`S #19 EXPRESS BUSES SERVE NEW SEASON OF HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL AT UNITED CENTER

The Chicago Blackhawks and the Bulls are returning to the United Center for a new season of hockey and basketball, and CTAs newly renamed #19 United Center Express buses will serve fans attending all home games, including pre-season activity.

The first Blackhawks home game of the season will be played at 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 8, against the Phoenix Coyotes. The Bulls will play their first pre-season home game at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 12, against the Denver Nuggets. The first Bulls game of the regular season will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 3, against the New York Knicks.

#19 United Center Express buses also serve special events at the United Center. Among the upcoming events to be served are the Tom Petty concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 7; the Kings of Comedy performance at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 9, and the John Mellencamp concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 14.

#19 United Center buses begin their trips about two hours before the start of each event, making their first stop southbound on Michigan at Chicago Avenue. Operating every 12 minutes until about a half hour before the start of the event, #19 buses proceed south on Michigan, stopping at Illinois, before turning west on Wacker and going south on State.

After stopping southbound on State at Lake for riders connecting from the Green Line, and at Washington for the Red Line, #19 buses turn west on Madison and stop mid-block between State and Dearborn for riders from the Blue Line. Additional stops are made on Madison at Wells for riders transferring from the Brown and Orange Lines; at Clinton for Metra riders from the Ogilvie Center (NorthWestern Station) and Union Station, and again at Halsted before the buses run express to the United Center.

A new routing provides faster service for #19 buses west of Halsted. The buses will now go north on Halsted to Randolph and west via Randolph, Washington and Damen back to Madison. With #19 Express buses now stopping eastbound on Madison right in front of the United Center, riders no longer need to cross the street to enter.

After each event #19 buses start their return trips from the same location as they arrived. The buses operate via Madison, Halsted, Washington, State, and Wacker back to Michigan, where all stops are made north to Chicago Avenue.