There is no single answer. Some are owned by the teams/United Center management. These are the “official” lots directly north, south, and west of the arena. Others are owned by the city and leased to smaller operators (Red Top, etc) and they all compete for visitors on price and using those ridiculous attendants with whistles and wiffle bats.
The city’s ownership of land allows for some kind of master planning for this area, but I think city officials want the support of Wirtz and Reinsdorf, as well as the private parking operators that lease city land. Those people are not blind to the redevelopment potential, but they’re also savvy enough to stall until the city agrees to a generous buyout or development subsidy. Typical city politics stuff.
Ald. Burnett at least appears mildly in favor of building decked parking;
https://www.google.com/amp/www.chica...olumn,amp.html. Some of this will depend on whether the new Green Line stop at Damen attracts significant numbers of riders going to UC events (it probably won’t).