A giant mobile refrigeration unit and semi-truck housing equipment to create an NHL-caliber slab of ice arrived outside Wrigley Field on Monday as final preparations are made for the discovery. NHL Winter Classic.
The Chicago Blackhawks are hosting the annual event at The Friendly Confines for the second time, with the St. Louis Blues to the North Side on New Year's Eve, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m
The Blackhawks previously hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field in the 2009 NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2009, a game the Red Wings won 6-4.
Conditions earlier this week were ideal for a rink at the historic stadium.
“Above freezing, it doesn’t rain, it doesn’t snow, so those are great working conditions for us,” said Andrew Higgins, the NHL’s senior director of facilities and hockey operations.
Crews have placed signs outside Wrigley Field and have also begun work inside the stadium.
“They start by covering the field, putting in the armor deck. Once it's all covered, we'll start our job of stopping the truck and then start all the pipe connections down to the field,” Derek King, the NHL's senior director of NHL Facilities and Hockey Operations, said.
King said they plan to start making ice by Friday, which should allow enough time for the first sleds to prepare it on the 29th.
“[To make the ice]We'll build a stage deck, then we'll put in aluminum pans that the glycol will pipe through. We will use the refrigeration trailer to start cooling those pans. Once we get to the freezing point, we'll start sprinkling water just like they do at the United Center. Our goal is probably to get about an inch and a half to two inches of ice. “We look forward to replicating those conditions inside United Centers for players on game day,” King said.
Building a hockey field inside a baseball field presents a unique challenge.
“It's space-wise for us. Our buildings are similar, whether we're making an NFL stadium or a baseball stadium,” King said. “We work in a smaller space, but our build is the same as we do anywhere else. To be in Chicago or in Wrigley is pretty cool. It's going to be a really special event.”
Fans of all ages are already getting into the spirit. Just over 11 miles from Wrigley, Blackhawks star Connor Bedard helped dozens of kids from the True Value Boys and Girls Club cut the ribbon on a brand-new outdoor sports field.
The project is part of the NHL Winter Classic Legacy Project, which conducts legacy initiatives in each host city.
This year's Winter Classic marks the league's 42nd outdoor game.
“We've spent over $8 million on legacy initiatives,” said Brian Jennings, NHL senior executive vice president of marketing and chief brand officer. “Being able to give kids that outdoor space is really important. The league is committed to that because it's important to not only learn about the sport of hockey but also be outside and enjoy each other.”
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Jennings also announced that 200 local children and their families will attend the Winter Classic for free.
“Our relationships here on the West Side are real and long-standing. We work here, we play our games here, and for many of our employees, they are raising their families here. We couldn't be more excited about this project.” Blackhawks team president Jaime Faulkner said.
The athletic court comes on the heels of the creation of the Boys & Girls Club floor hockey program two years ago. According to the Blackhawks Foundation, interest in the program has “exploded.”
In addition to the play space, kids will also notice a new mural outside the club at 2950 W. 25th Street, painted by local artist Centrock.
“It's really about a long-term investment that the Blackhawks have made with Chicago. It's been our home for almost 100 years. And you can tie that back to our desire to grow the game of hockey, so that anytime kids can pick up a stick and play,” said Sarah Guderian, executive director of the Foundation. Blackhawks: “They don't even need to play on the ice, they can play it right here in Little Village.”
The New Year's Eve game marks the seventh outdoor regular season game for the Blackhawks, and their second against the Blues, who they previously played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis in the 2017 NHL Winter Classic.
2024-12-17 20:43:49
