Arena Report: Which Chicago Stadiums are Best for Concerts and Comedy?

The Epic Venues: Soldier Field and Wrigley Field

We need to start a bit off kilter here because there are some important caveats in order. I’ve only seen dedicated concerts at Wrigley Field. I’ve avoided Soldier Field like the plague because I’ve been to countless Bears games, and the in-and-out nightmare is very real. 

Wrigley Field, on the other hand, is close to my house (a niche benefit, to be sure) and accessible via bus, train, or bike. I’ve seen Dave Matthews Band, Billy Joel, and Zac Brown Band in the friendly confines. 

All that said, here's how the two arenas stack up on paper:

Wrigley Field

• Capacity: ~41,000 for concerts. 
• Home of: The Chicago Cubs
• Transportation: Moderately easy by train, bus, or rideshare. Difficult by car. 
• Sound: Generally good, but the ballpark was made for roaring crowds more so than serenades. Gets muddier in the nosebleeds.
• Vibes: Wrigley Field is hard to match here! The ivy is iconic, and the neighborhood surrounding the stadium is full of pre- and post-concert watering holes. 
• Notable performers: John Mulaney will become the first-ever comedian to headline Wrigley Field this summer. 

Soldier Field

• Capacity: ~61,000 to ~63,000 depending on configuration
• Home of: The Chicago Bears (for now)
• Transportation: Difficult; accessing trains, buses, and rideshares requires a hefty walk. 
• Sound: Made for NFL games, so it carries well within the stadium. 
• Vibes: Weather dependent! There aren’t many weather-safe seats in Soldier Field, so you’re subject to the lake’s wrath. 
• Notable performers: Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift

Indoor Excellence: United Center, Wintrust, and Allstate Arena

Now we arrive where I’m most comfortable: with a roof over my head. I won’t keep you waiting. The United Center is my favorite venue on this list for concerts because it has the infrastructure necessary to support them. You don’t have to deal with the weather. It’s easy to get to and from, especially for city dwellers. I’ve seen Lizzo, John Mulaney, and Michael Bublé at the UC, all to great results. 

A short trip outside of the city will take you to Rosemont’s Allstate Arena, home of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, for an overall solid experience. The newest entry on this list is Wintrust Arena, which I have yet to visit. 

United Center

• Capacity: ~23,500
• Home of: The Chicago Bulls and The Chicago Blackhawks
• Transportation: Manageable. Dedicated lots on the west side and a well-run exit process. Accessible by multiple bus routes.
• Sound: Engineered for it. Steep bowl design keeps the mix tight, even from the nosebleeds. This is the rare arena that actually sounds like it was designed by someone who attends concerts.
• Vibes: Reliable, not romantic. The UC does everything well but isn’t flashy or snooty about it. 
• Notable performers: Lizzo, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi

Allstate Arena

• Capacity: ~22,000 for concerts 
• Home of: The Chicago Wolves
• Transportation: An easy drive, but in-and-out can take ages during highly attended events.
• Sound: Standard arena sound, nothing fancy. Fun fact: the roof was literally designed to muffle O'Hare flight noise.
• Vibes: I never pick Allstate first, but it gets the job done. Leaving by car is always my least favorite part, though.
• Notable performers: Queen, Madonna, Ariana Grande

Wintrust Arena

• Capacity: ~10,387
• Home of: The Chicago Sky
• Transportation: Decent. McCormick Square garages handle the volume, but traffic backs up fast when an event lets out at the same time as a convention.
• Sound: Built in 2017, so it's modern by default, no retrofitting a hockey rink to handle a bassline.
• Vibes: The boutique option. Big enough to feel like a real arena show, small enough that you can still make out faces from the upper deck.
• Notable performers: Bob Dylan/Mavis Staples (the venue's first major public show), REO Speedwagon

Downsizing: My Favorite Chicago Concert Venues

An iconic Chicago arena might be part of your ultimate sports trip experience, and that’s great. But if you want a smaller, more intimate experience built for music or comedy, other venues in and around Chicago will scratch that itch. 

• Ravinia Festival: Located in Highland Park and with a dedicated Metra train stop, Ravinia is easy to get to and hard to beat on vibes. It’s a massive grassy area offering lawn seats surrounding the plain pavilion venue. 
• The Vic Theater: The Lakeview neighborhood is flush with small venues for comedy and improv. The Vic is my favorite stop for comedy; not a bad seat in the house. You won’t miss the smallest inflections or facial expressions from any seat. 
• Schuba’s/Lincoln Hall: Small venues for the win! Schuba’s has long been a proving ground for up-and-comers, and its tiny concert hall makes you feel like you’re the first to know about someone who will soon be big. Lincoln Hall is the slightly larger sister venue. 
• The Chicago Theater: worth it for the atmosphere and marquee, honestly. An excellent sit-down-and-chill venue. 
• The Aragon Ballroom: This is Chicago’s ultimate mid-sized venue. It’s big enough to support large crowds and energetic acts but small enough to feel like you’re in the action from any spot. 
• The Salt Shed: Whoever built the Salt Shed knew how concert-going should be. With indoor and outdoor venues, surrounding shops and restaurants, and a tightly run transportation flow, The Salt Shed is easily my favorite concert venue in Chicago. 

You Define Your Experience

No matter who you’re seeing or which venue they’re playing, you can do a lot to shape your own experience. Plan ahead. Use my recommendations to decide on transportation. Arrive early to enjoy a Chicago-style hot dog or wander the iconic venues the city has to offer.