In releasing their schedule for the 2009-10 season, the Bulls announced they were moving up the start of games at the United Center by 30 minutes to 7 p.m.

''In surveys of our season-ticket holders and group leaders, a majority of our fans indicated a preference for 7 p.m. games, so we thought we would give this a try,'' said Steve Schanwald, the team's executive vice president of business operations. ''In addition, the earlier start time is better for families with young children. They can get home a half-hour earlier, which is especially important on school nights.''

The earlier start means games will generally end around 9:30 instead of 10.

As for the schedule, the Bulls will play 22 sets of back-to-back games and have four stretches of four games in five nights. They open the season with a tough back-to-back, Oct. 29 against the San Antonio Spurs at the UC, then the Celtics in Boston the next night.

On Nov. 5, they get their first look at the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers (with Shaquille O'Neal) with a road date. Speaking of the road, the Bulls begin their annual ''circus trip'' on Nov. 17 in Sacramento. The trip continues with games against the Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 19), the Denver Nuggets (Nov. 21), the Portland Trail Blazers (Nov. 23) and the Utah Jazz (Nov. 26).

The Bulls then come home for a few days before the road swing concludes on Nov. 30 with a quick trip to Milwaukee for a game against the Bucks.

Ben Gordon, who signed with the Detroit Pistons this summer, makes his return to the UC on Dec. 2 in the Bulls' first home game in nearly three weeks.

The Bulls will make 13 appearances on TNT and ESPN, including their first two games against the Spurs (TNT) and Celtics (ESPN).

Individual tickets to all home games will go on sale Oct. 2 at 10 a.m.

2009-10 Bulls SCHEDULE

Oct. 29 San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Boston, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1 at Miami, 5 p.m.

Nov. 3 Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Nov. 5 at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Nov. 7 Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 Denver, 7 p.m.

Nov. 11 at Toronto, 6 p.m.

Nov. 14 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Nov. 17 at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Nov. 19 at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 21 at Denver, 8 p.m.

Nov. 23 at Portland, 9 p.m.

Nov. 26 at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 30 at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Dec. 2 Detroit, 7 p.m.

Dec. 4 at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Dec. 5 Toronto, 7 p.m.

Dec. 8 New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Dec. 9 at Atlanta, 6 p.m.

Dec. 11 Golden State, 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 Boston, 7 p.m.

Dec. 15 L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17 New York, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19 Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21 Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22 at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 26 New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Dec. 29 Indiana, 7 p.m.

Dec. 31 at Detroit, 2 p.m.

Jan. 2 Orlando, 7 p.m.

Jan. 4 Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Jan. 5 at Charlotte, 6 p.m.

Jan. 8 at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Jan. 11 Detroit, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 at Boston, 7 p.m.

Jan. 15 Washington, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18 at Golden State, 3 p.m.

Jan. 20 at L.A. Clippers, 9:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Houston, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 25 at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2 L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.

Feb. 3 at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Feb. 5 at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 Miami, 7 p.m.

Feb. 9 at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Feb. 10 Orlando, 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 New York, 7 p.m.

Feb. 17 at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Feb. 20 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Feb. 22 at Washington, 6 p.m.

Feb. 24 Indiana, 7 p.m.

Feb. 26 Portland, 7 p.m.

Feb. 27 at Indiana, 6 p.m.

March 1 Atlanta, 7 p.m.

March 4 Memphis, 7 p.m.

March 6 Dallas, 7 p.m.

March 9 Utah, 7 p.m.

March 11 at Orlando, 7 p.m.

March 12 at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

March 16 at Memphis, 7 p.m.

March 17 at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

March 19 Cleveland, 7 p.m.

March 20 at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

March 22 Houston, 7 p.m.

March 25 Miami, 7 p.m.

March 27 New Jersey, 7 p.m.

March 28 at Detroit, 5 p.m.

March 30 Phoenix, 7 p.m.

April 2 at Washington, 6 p.m.

April 3 Charlotte, 7 p.m.

April 6 Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

April 8 Cleveland, 7 p.m.

April 9 at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

April 11 at Toronto, 5 p.m.

April 13 Boston, 7 p.m.

April 14 at Charlotte, 7 p.m.