Chicago Bulls Announce 2008-09 Regular Season Schedule

By the Chicago Bulls
Posted Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The Chicago Bulls will tip off their 43rd season on Tuesday, October 28, when they host the Milwaukee Bucks in their season opener at 7:30 p.m. at the United Center. Three days later, Chicago will take to the road for the first time when they travel to Boston and face the NBA Champion Celtics at 7:00 p.m.

For just the second time in team history and the first since 1997-98, the 2008-09 campaign opens with Chicago playing seven of its first 10 games at home. The Bulls will then head west for a six-game road trip from November 18-26. Chicago will follow up its west-coast trip with a road game at Philadelphia on November 30, concluding a stretch of seven straight road contests.

On two occasions, Chicago will host five-game homestands (November 7-15 and January 3-12); the team’s longest home stretches of the year. The Bulls will then wrap up their regular season slate playing five of their final six games at the United Center, highlighted by a four-game homestand (April 4-11). In addition to the team’s seven-game road swing in November, the Bulls will also appear on the road for seven straight games from January 25 to February 7; each road trip represents Chicago’s longest time away from the UC during the season.

Highlights on Chicago’s home schedule this year include the NBA World Champion Boston Celtics in a St. Patrick’s Day clash on Tuesday, March 17. The Cleveland Cavaliers come to town on Saturday, November 8 and Thursday, January 15. Chicago will also host its Central Division foe the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, February 10 and Tuesday, March 24. Other dates to circle are: Phoenix on Friday, November 7, Dallas on Thursday, November 13, Utah on Saturday, December 20, Oklahoma City on Saturday, January 10, Portland on Monday, January 12, San Antonio on Saturday, January 17, Miami on Thursday, February 12 and Thursday, March 26, Denver on Friday, February 20, Houston on Saturday, February 28 and the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, March 21.

For the second year in a row, Chicago will welcome the Orlando Magic to the United Center on New Year’s Eve day. The two teams will jump center at 1:00 p.m. The game against the Magic marks one of two matinee games at the United Center this season, and one of five day games on the year. Chicago will also host the Indiana Pacers for a day game on March 28 at 1:00 p.m. The Bulls are also scheduled to play three matinee road games, including on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at New York on January 19 at 12:00 p.m., at Indiana on February 22 at 11:00 a.m., and at Toronto on March 29 at 2:30 p.m.

On the year, Chicago will play 22 back-to-back sets, two more than last year, and just one stretch of four games in five nights. The Bulls will play 18 times (15 home) on Saturdays, 17 times (11 home) on Tuesdays, 15 times (four home) on Wednesdays, 14 times (five home) on Fridays, eight times (one home) on Mondays, five times (five home) on Thursdays, and five times (zero home) on Sundays.

The Bulls will play 16 games a month in January and March, their most contests for any month, and 15 games in both November and December. Chicago’s monthly breakdown is as follows: two games in October (one home), 15 games in November (six home), 15 games in December (seven home), 16 games in January (nine home), 12 games in February (five home), 16 games in March (eight home) and six games in April (five home).

Tickets for every Chicago Bulls home game will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 3 at the United Center Box Office, Ticketmaster locations, online at www.bulls.com or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX. For season tickets, 11-Game Plans or groups, call 312-455-4000 and ask for a Ticket Representative. For a printable version of the Bulls’ 2008-09 schedule, fans are encouraged to visit www.bulls.com.