NHL Winter Classic Update

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 8:11 AM CDT in News Comment 45 comments

For the many hockey fans here, there's news about the Winter Classic, to be played at Wrigley Field on January 1:

"I've heard people are excited," [NHL Commissioner Gary] Bettman said Wednesday at the UC before the Oilers-Hawks game. "No updates for now, though. A lot of parties are involved -- the Hawks, the Cubs. In the next couple of weeks, things will be finalized. There's no urgency. The game is going to be sold out."

Ticket sales won't be an issue, which explains why the NHL has seemingly dragged its feet on planning for the big game.

"There won't be a massive public sale like the one we had in Buffalo last year, when we used a 72,000-seat facility," Bettman said. "Season-ticket holders for the Hawks will be our first priority."

There are about 14,000 of them at the moment, and Wrigley is expected to seat about 41,000 for the game.

Bettman isn't sure where the rink will be located but suspects it will be in the back part of the infield.

I suck at Photoshop, so if anyone here wants to take this photo and do a rendering of what the rink might look like, go for it; email your Photoshops to me and I'll replace this photo with the best one:

Now, about tickets. How are YOU going to get some, if you want to go? The quote above says there are about 14,000 Blackhawk season ticket holders (that is, incidentally, more than three times what they had last year); the Detroit Free Press reported earlier this month that that the Red Wings would be allotted 5,000 tickets. Let's say the NHL takes 10,000 for itself, sponsors, etc. That'd account for 29,000 of the 41,000 seats. I would hope (mainly because I want to go) -- though there have been no promises made -- that Cub season ticket holders would get access to some, at least through a lottery, and then the rest would be sold to the general public.

This ought to be an exciting event and perhaps the toughest ticket for a regular season game in Chicago history. It will also show us what a video board might look like at Wrigley Field, because the NHL and the Blackhawks intend to put up a temporary board (probably on Waveland) -- they need it, among other things, to keep a visible clock on the game, as the existing Wrigley Field boards (the ones below the main board and the ones on the upper deck) would be pretty small.

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Cool idea....

I have a friend who just started at WGN. Her first task is to help plan this event. Wish I would be in town for this. Sounds like a lot of fun.

All things great in 2008!!

by By Santo's Grace on Oct 23, 2008 8:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like a cool job.

I'm finally moving on...

by slocs55 on Oct 23, 2008 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is AWESOME!

Brian McRae's 5 o'clock shadow

by PurpleLineToWrigley on Oct 23, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a photoshop expert by any stretch

but heard the rink would run diagonally between 1st and 3rd with much of the rink near the edge of the IF dirt and into the OF.

As for the video board, I thought I remember seeing a rendition of that being placed in R-CF, between where the CF bleachers end and the left side edge of the bleacher box seats, at the back of the concourse.

Blackhawk ST holders were told that mid-Nov was the timeframe for tickets alocations to be determined. These seats are not p/o the ST package. There were hints that those of use who are full ST holders may be able to purchase add’l tickets. I’m hoping to get more than the 4 equivalent to my club-level tickets. After dropping over $16k on tickets I’m hoping for the best opportunities.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Oct 23, 2008 8:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Get Em Quick

The Sabres Pens tickets were gone in an instant with 30, 000 more seats. As a penguins fan, Im glad I dont have to watch worrying about crappy ice surfaces hurting The Kid

Should be quite a spectacle though

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Oct 23, 2008 8:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

dear LORD, but I love that view ..

Only my wife’s face is sweeter and dearer to me.

And you can’t kiss Wrigley, unless you have severe social adjustment problems.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Oct 23, 2008 8:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good seat locations

If you guys are looking for good seats and get to pick a spot for the game, try upper deck box seats near first base and third base. This will give you the best view of the game. There will be a lot of seats with terrible views of the game. I would not recommend terrace reserve for this game. my $0.02.

by gocubsgo22 on Oct 23, 2008 9:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I would agree, if the rink is placed where they say it will be.

Upper boxes will be prime seats. Lower boxes, a bit less so, and terrace reserved, bad.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It will be cool............

………….to attend this event at Wrigley, but clearly Soldier Field would have been a better venue. For those who actually want to see the game, there won’t be many good seats at Wrigley. Bleachers too will likely suck because it will be impossible for most to see over the dashers.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Oct 23, 2008 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The low rows of the bleachers, probably true.

The higher rows might be better.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

CF might be okay too.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Oct 23, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

requirement to buy a ticket plan

I’ve heard that the Blackhawks might require fans to purchase a ticket plan in order to get the single-game tickets for the Winter Classic. In other words, you’d have to buy tickets to three or four games in order to get the ticket to Wrigley. The White Sox use this scheme when the Cubs visit US Cellular and the Fire (as well as every other MLS team) do it for Beckham’s visits. It makes sense considering that demand for the 12,000 available tickets (or however many there are) will be much greater than games at the UC.

Does anyone know if there’s any validity to this rumor? I can’t even recall where I heard it but I think that it certainly seems like a possibility.

"Some people will look at a glass of water and say it's half-empty, while another guy will look at it and say it's half-full. A Cubs fan looks at the same glass and asks, "When's it gonna spill?" - Mike Royko

by LaddieRenfroe on Oct 23, 2008 9:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The partial plans..............

…………offered by the Hawks were snapped up quickly. The 9-game “Hull Plan” and 21-game “Mikita Plan” were sold out before the season started. That said, it was my understanding these packages would not entitle the holder to the Winter Classic.

So if that’s the case, I can’t see the Hawks now offering yet another partial plan that would include the option for Winter Classic tickets. Doesn’t make sense, and as Al points out, the Hawks are likely not sure just how many tickets they will have for distribution.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Oct 23, 2008 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Full season ticket holders only

can get Winter Classic tickets IIRC.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Oct 23, 2008 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The White Sox don't use such a scheme any more.

They did do that, but no longer do.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my brother and I haven't yet determined how we are going to get tickets.

but we will be there. come hell or high water I will be at Wrigley Field new years day.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Oct 23, 2008 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike I told you, three options to us getting in there:

1) Getting lucky and getting tickets through the public sale
2) Scalping
3) Committing murder

Oh and for all you who may be wondering, the rooftops haven’t decided what they’re doing about the game yet. I sent an email a month ago and they said they haven’t made arrangements. I saw Bucky skate against Brutus at Lambeau, leaps and bounds my favorite NFL stadium. I need to see the Hawks play the Red Wings at Wrigley, leaps and and bounds my favorite MLB stadium. I’m seeing this game live. End of story.

"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth

by TkGoUWGB on Oct 23, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh and so people don't frown on me too much

Note that murder is the 3rd option, not the 1st or 2nd. That would have been a little morbid otherwise.

"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth

by TkGoUWGB on Oct 23, 2008 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you get tickets via option 1 or 2.

Just sayin’.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well now option 3 is right out

too many people know about your plans tk……..

I have to determine how much I can to pay scalpers with everything else going on in my life right now.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Oct 23, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose it depends on who the object of your 'affection' would be

I’m sure there’s more than a few names that would probably take you out of murder and put you in the ‘justifiable homicide’ category…

Just sayin’…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 24, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know what this realy means, but I like how I read it better...

A lot of parties are involved

You bet there will be plenty of parties involved!

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand. - Homer J Simpson

by MikeOxbyg on Oct 23, 2008 10:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Any word as to when the tix will go on sale to the public?

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 23, 2008 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No dates were told to 'Hawks ST holders

n/t

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Oct 23, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It would be sorta cool...

if they could get the clock on top of the scoreboard to function as a game clock. Have it turned into an old-school countdown clock kinda like you see on scoreboards sometimes in movies about basketball from the 50s, 60s & 70s. I’m reasonably sure there’s a way that it could be done… but I’m 100% sure that no one would want to bother trying to get it to work.

by MillsChC on Oct 23, 2008 1:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They used to use it that way for Bears games.

The mechanism probably still exists, but I’m guessing there’s no one still working there who knows how to hook it up.

Further problem: it probably doesn’t time more than 15-minute periods because that’s all you needed for football.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Separate clock?

At least in the photo at this link, the football clock was separate from the time of day clock.

http://www.bracephoto.com/images/players/Untitled-60.jpg

The football clock had a minute hand and a second hand. The minute hand traveled 360 degrees in 15 minutes. If it still exists, it would need to be modified for hockey.

Al Spangler

by AlSpangler on Oct 23, 2008 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cool photo

It would have been neat to see a Bears game at Wrigley Field.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Oct 23, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

so the whole section where they show the number of outs & the teams’ hits totals was removable back then? Wonder if it is still removable or was it welded in place after the Bears left town.

by MillsChC on Oct 23, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's probably still removable.

That clock only kept time to 15 minutes, so even if it exists in some storage room, somewhere, it wouldn’t work for hockey.

That photo has to date from 1937 or 1938 — because the ivy was barely started.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 23, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow, that is a really neat photo

In da bears final years they had a different clock, much smaller I think

by stadiumguru on Oct 23, 2008 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hoosiers

Been there; done that; that would be extremely cool

Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Oct 23, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This would probably be the hottest

regular season ticket in Chicago sports history. The only games that I could see topping this would be some of the classic college games at Soldier Field in the 30s-60s, and the closing of any famous stadium(yankee, original 6 arenas, etc).
Now that I’m not traveling with my Badgers to a bowl game on New Years(or at all), I’m definitely opening up the wallet on this game(which isn’t saying much for a college student, but still). Hopefully I’ll luck out with tickets over the phone, or stubhub will be nice to me

by stadiumguru on Oct 23, 2008 1:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I got our Badgers losing this weekend to Illinois

and just making it a completely wasted season. I can’t believe how we have fallen this year.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Oct 23, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, it has been a depressing season.

hopefully we’ll be able to pull an upset against Illinois, Michigan State, or Minnesota and get those 6 wins, and hopefully go to Detroit. Any bowl is better than no bowl, even if it is a 6 hr trip to Detroit the day after Christmas.

by stadiumguru on Oct 23, 2008 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like a hell of a roadtrip. Pack plenty of liquor.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Oct 23, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably the best football

that will be played at Ford Field this year. I drove there for Packers/Lions during the monsoon weekend in September. The Lions are awful. Period. I like that downtown area though. Make sure you go to Detroit Brewing Company.

"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth

by TkGoUWGB on Oct 23, 2008 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha, yeah

remind me again why the lions aren’t playing high school teams? There games would be more competitive then.
Ford Field on the other hand…that is an amazing place to see a football game. Basketball not so much, but football is amazing. I’ll be there for the frozen four in 2010, so I’ll see how it holds up for hockey.

by stadiumguru on Oct 23, 2008 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs