Mew Stadium Promises To Hold the Noise - Up

As construction for the new West Side home for the Bulls andBlackhawks hit its halfway point Wednesday, stadium authoritiesannounced the project is on schedule and on budget.

And, soundwise, on target.

As roof beams were moved into place, project coordinator TerrySavarise told reporters that engineers working on the United Centerhave come up with ways to keep leather-lunged fans in the game - andon the backs of the opposition.

In a nod to Chicago Stadium's reputation for noise once measuredas between a train turning a corner and a jet taking off, Savarisesaid builders are treating exposed surfaces with "reflectivematerial" to enhance sound - "to make sure the organ booms and thecrowd noise stays loud."

"It won't be dead like some other (sports) buildings," he said.

In clouds of dirt and dust, about 400 workers crawled over thestructure Wednesday, firing rivet guns, wrestling jackhammers andworking cranes.

The project's targeted finish is in August, 1994. Its pricetag, including relocation of former residents, is $175 million.

United Center is privately financed for the most part, thoughthe city will spend $3.4 million on infrastructure improvements andexempt about $7 million - 40 percent of the annual revenues from thecity's 4 percent amusement tax.

Larger than the old stadium, United Center will seat 21,500 inupholstered seats for basketball and 20,500 for hockey. Its threelevels of suites - 216 in all - are sold out, Savarise said. Theprices range from $50,000 to $175,000 a year, including 12 or 14tickets for every Hawks and Bulls game. United Center has moresuites than any other sports facility in the United States, Savarisesaid.

Other amenities include 16 escalators, three times the restroomspace now in the Chicago Stadium, a Sports Hall of Fame, a 350-seatprivate dining club and an eight-sided, 4-screen video scoreboard.At 950,000 square feet, United Center will be about three times thesize of the old stadium.