Allstate Arena

Quick picks before you buy

For a Chicago Wolves game at Allstate Arena, buy a lower-level seat near center ice several rows above the glass, or save money in a lower corner. For an end-stage concert, the floor and the lower side sections angled toward the stage are the premium buys, and the lower sections straight across from the stage are the smart middle ground. Because the arena has only two seating levels, a 200-level seat on the long side is a perfectly good ticket for either.

The building sits in Rosemont, Illinois, a few minutes from O'Hare International Airport, and it is owned by the village. The Wolves of the American Hockey League are the main tenant, and the rest of the calendar fills with arena tours, family shows, pro wrestling and fight cards. For northwest-suburban fans, it is a shorter drive and a smaller room than the United Center on Chicago's Near West Side.

• Hockey: center-ice lower level, or lower corners for value.
• End-stage concerts: front floor, lower sides near the stage, or lower sections facing it.
• Center-ring events: first rows of the lower level on any side.

How the bowl is laid out

Picture two rings stacked around the floor with suites tucked between them. According to fan seat-photo indexes such as A View From My Seat, the lower ring is the 100 level, sections 101 through 116, and the upper ring is the 200 level, sections 201 through 216. SeatGeek's photo set lines up with those ranges. End-stage concerts add floor sections; A View From My Seat shows them as sections 1 through 4.

The venue lists 18,500 reserved seats and 48 luxury suites. The real count depends on the setup: Wikipedia gives 16,692 for hockey, 17,500 for basketball and anywhere from 18,200 to 22,000 for concerts, depending on the stage and how much of the floor is seated.

Why the missing third deck matters

In a three-tier NBA or NHL building, the top rows can feel detached from the event. Here, the highest seat is in the second ring, so the back of the 200 level is noticeably closer than the nosebleeds at many big-league arenas. That changes the math: upstairs center seats are a reasonable first choice, not a last resort.

Sides, corners and ends

• Long sides: the middle sections on each side of both levels, the classic hockey view.
• Corners: where the bowl curves, giving a diagonal look at plays as they build.
• Ends: behind the nets for hockey; facing or flanking the stage for concerts.

Matching sections to the event

Wolves hockey

Center-ice seats on the lower level show the whole sheet. Sitting a handful of rows up clears the boards and the traffic around the benches without losing the speed of the game. The lower corners are the value play: cheaper than center ice, and the angle makes passing lanes easy to follow. Families often do well upstairs, where every side of the 200 level sees all of the ice.

End-stage concerts

The front floor and the lower side sections that angle toward the stage are the top of the market. Lower sections directly opposite the stage give a centered view of the full production for less than the floor. Upstairs at the far end is the budget tier.

Wrestling, fights and in-the-round shows

With the ring in the middle, there is no bad side; the first rows of the lower level are excellent anywhere. For wrestling with an entrance ramp, sitting on the side that faces the entrance stage gives you the walkouts head-on.

Where you give something up

• 200-level sides closest to an end stage: with a deep set, the angle is sharp and parts of the stage can drop out of view.
• The first row or two behind the glass at hockey: exciting, but the boards and players on the bench cut into the view of the far end.
• Tight upstairs rows: fan reviews describe some 200-level seats, section 214 among them, as short on legroom. Taller fans should look for an aisle seat on that level.
• Deep floor seats: the floor is flat, so a seat far back on it can see less than a raised seat in the lower bowl.

Wolves schedule and ticket demand

Founded in 1994, the Chicago Wolves have called this building home from the start. They played in the International Hockey League until moving to the AHL in 2001, and they have won two Turner Cups (1997–98 and 1999–2000) and three Calder Cups (2001–02, 2007–08 and 2021–22). The 2026–27 season is the club's 33rd: 72 regular-season games, with the home opener set for October 10 at Allstate Arena. The season runs October to April, followed by playoffs.

The hottest Wolves tickets are rivalry dates against the Rockford IceHogs and Milwaukee Admirals, weekend family games and the playoffs. Weeknight games against other Central Division clubs usually leave plenty of choice. Concert demand depends on the act, and floor seats sell first. Reserved Seat backs every order with a 100% guarantee.

Train, bus or car to Rosemont

The CTA recommends riding the Blue Line on the O'Hare branch to the Rosemont stop and switching to Pace bus 221, which runs to the arena. You avoid expressway jams and parking, and the Blue Line connects straight to downtown.

Still, most people drive. The arena is close to the major expressways and says it has plenty of on-site parking. Rates change by event and are not posted as a single figure, so check the event page first. Rideshare drop-off is quick; pickup after a sellout takes patience while Mannheim Road clears.

Rosemont's hotels and its other venues, including Parkway Bank Park, are nearby, which suits fans flying through O'Hare. If you are staying downtown, leave extra time on weeknights.

Entry rules and arena background

Bags and banned items

As of October 2026, the posted policy prohibits backpacks, totes, mid-size and large bags, and coolers, and any approved bag must be 12 by 12 inches or smaller. Diaper bags (with a child present) and medically necessary bags are let in after a search. Detachable-lens cameras, recording gear, selfie sticks, iPads, GoPros, glass, laser pointers and weapons are banned. Doors usually open an hour before showtime, and the box office runs weekdays and Saturdays. Some events add stricter rules, so check the Village of Rosemont's Allstate Arena page before you go.

How the arena got here

Work started on September 12, 1978. Less than a year later, on August 13, 1979, the unfinished roof collapsed, killing five construction workers and injuring 16. The arena opened on May 11, 1980, as the Rosemont Horizon, designed by Anthony M. Rossi Architects, and became Allstate Arena when the insurer bought naming rights on June 9, 1999.

Before the Wolves era settled in, the arena served many tenants: DePaul men's basketball (1980 to 2017), Loyola (1989 to 1994), the arena football Chicago Rush (2001 to 2013), the WNBA's Chicago Sky (2010 to 2017) and Northwestern basketball for 2017–18. It has staged WrestleMania in 1986, 1997 and 2006, UFC 90 in 2008 and NCAA tournament games.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Allstate Arena
• Village of Rosemont – Allstate Arena
• Village of Rosemont – Allstate Arena info
• Village of Rosemont – Allstate Arena policies
• CTA – Getting to concerts and events
• Wikipedia – Chicago Wolves
• Chicago Wolves – 2026-27 schedule announcement
• A View From My Seat – Allstate Arena sections
• SeatGeek – Allstate Arena seating chart