NEAR WEST SIDE — Ahead of construction at the United Center, the uber-popular Michael Jordan statue has moved to a new location.
On Thursday, workers moved the Michael Jordan statue from the podium in front of gate 4 to a new location at the southeast corner of the United Center.
The empty podium will remain at the site during construction, workers said Thursday.
The empty podium, which previously held the Michael Jordan statue, at Gate 6 of the United Center. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
In January, officials announced plans to build an atrium that would connect the United Center with a new office building being erected east of the building.
Under the plan, the Jordan statue that now sits outside the United Center will move inside the new atrium to be built next to the building.
The office building will house employees who currently work out of the United Center and a new Blackhawks and Bulls retail store.
Crews plan to break ground on the project this spring.
Fans flocked to the watch the statue being moved and then to take pictures of the empty podium where it once stood Thursday.
The Michael Jordan statue has been relocated to the southeast corner of the United Center during construction of a new atrium at the site. DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay
Tourists snap photos of the empty podium Thursday at the United Center. DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay
The statue draws fans from all over the world, many of whom don't have tickets to a game or who visit when the Bulls aren't in town or in season.
The Michael Jordan statue was unveiled on Nov. 1, 1994, the same day Jordan's No. 23 was retired. Highland Park husband-wife team Omri and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany designed and created the statue.
The Michael Jordan statue will be moved into a new atrium being built next to the existing United Center building. DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay
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