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Thu May 29, 2008 10:45 am EDT

Blackhawks, Red Wings at Wrigley Field finally a done deal?

By Greg Wyshynski

Earlier this week, we discussed where the NHL should take its traveling Winter Classic circus next, assuming the flirtation with closing out Yankee Stadium was losing steam. Comcast Sports Chicago reported last night that, in fact, it'll be the Chicago Blackhawks facing off against the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field next January, "with an official announcement perhaps coming this week."

That sound you heard was us patting ourselves on the back.

Y! Sports Kevin Kaduk, editor of the awesome Big League Stew blog, is a one of those Blackhawks fans who's back on the hook thanks to players like Patrick Kane (and thanks to the iron first of Dollar Bill no longer squeezing the life out of the team). From BLS:

The puckheads scored mega-ratings with this year's Pens-Sabres game in Buffalo and since Gary Bettman says that Yankee Stadium is unfit for a Rangers tilt, playing a game in a winter den the Bears used to inhabit seems the next-biggest headline grabber. An announcement, according to Comcast, is expected soon.

With two of my worlds colliding in such fashion, I'm pretty sure the current rapid firing of my synapses is causing permanent brain damage and that I may have to retreat to a corner to shake uncontrollably for the rest of the day.

The Blackhawks and Red Wings? At Wrigley? In the middle of winter? Yeah, here's my credit card, John McDonough. Charge whatever you want on it.

Should this come to pass, it's the right move. Detroit could be a reigning Stanley Cup champion, Chicago is a team on the verge of recapturing an Original Six city and the Western Conference deserves a taste of this gimmick sooner rather than later. And don't we all want to see the New York Rangers play in Fenway Park instead of Yankee Stadium anyway?

Our only request: Please, please, please hire Will Ferrell to portray Harry Carey singing Stompin' Tom Connors' "The Hockey Song."

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120 Comments

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  1. ron
    1. Posted by ron Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    NOT wrigley field! soldier field!! wrigley field is all wrong for this game.soldier field along the lake winter,YES!
  2. Mazarin
    2. Posted by Mazarin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    They could play this oustide next to the chrome bean and I'd still go.
  3. Daddeyo
    3. Posted by Daddeyo Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:29 pm EDT

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    Wrigley...Soldier...who cares...it will be hockey at it's finest...bring it on...Wrigley would be cozier though...If I have any beef with the outdoor set up is that the fans seem so far away from the ice...they need to fix that...have them bad boys banging on the glass just to stay warm...loud...loUD, LOUD. It seems the stands are half a mile from the ice at these games...what's up with that? Bring in some grand stands and sell 100,000 tickets...Is it a logistics issue? If not...make it cozier that's all...I think the players would dig it too.
  4. Matthew B
    4. Posted by Matthew B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    I'm just happy to see the NHL actually doing something smart. I just hope they are intelligent enough to put the game on NBC again and not Versus
  5. Weed Against Speed
    5. Posted by Weed Against Speed Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

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    I heard Al Jourgensen is already writing a lame song about it.
  6. CUP#12
    6. Posted by CUP#12 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    hell yes eric!! they could play on the firken mag mile and i would go for sure!! i agree with you as well r.e. in fact the the articla yesterday i suggested the to teams playing in the "spaceship that landed on the parthenon aka soldier field!! i would so be there!! hell i'd have some friends and family from detroit hope on over for that!!
    GOOOOO WINGS GOOOO!!
  7. Reggie
    7. Posted by Reggie Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    Even though r.e. is grammar challenged, I have to agree. Soldier Field is a much better location for this game.
    The views will be better, more butts in the seats, more camera locations, more elements to deal with, better parking, and of course, better hot chocolate.
    Let's Go Red Wings!!!!!!!!
  8. JrSalz
    8. Posted by JrSalz Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    LETS GO HAWKS! We're gonna rape the Red DINGS!
  9. HawksWin08
    9. Posted by HawksWin08 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Wrigley Field, too old, takes away from the experience. My last Cubs game, I cant tell you who won or lost. But I do remeber how the field is in shambles.
    * Game Promotions will be the first 10,000 fans receive 'hard hats' to protect yourself from falling concrete. The restrooms, urinals are outside, just use the brick wall (old fasion style).
    It should be the Cell or Soldier Field !!!!! No WRIGLEY......
  10. Brian
    10. Posted by Brian Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    get your pucks off the friendly confines! ... soldier if you must, but even that tastes bad to me!
  11. Commish
    11. Posted by Commish Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:29 pm EDT

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    Oh yeah, I was hoping since watching the winterclassic last year, it might be in Chicago. It deserves to be here, two of the original six teams, playing at either wrigley or soldier field. What chicago hockey fan wouldn't like this. I can't wait, and I can't wait to see how the hawks do next year. Go Chicago Blackhawks.
  12. footmomma
    12. Posted by footmomma Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT

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    Wrigley field would HAVE to be the place Not Soldier's Field...Da Bears Will be in Da Playoffs in January...hard to play football on ice...and don't forget Wrigley can get as cold as Soldier's Field..ever been to a game when..."Wind is blowing in"..drop taht puck baby
  13. JCHANEY454
    13. Posted by JCHANEY454 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    Yeah, Bruins and Rangers at Fenway would be awesome.
  14. wot's..uh the deal
    14. Posted by wot's..uh the deal Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:37 pm EDT

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    I'd rather see it in US Cellular Field or Solider Field - Wrigley is an old, worn out barn.
    In the end I don't care, I'll be there somehow to cheer on both teams - even though I'm a life long Wings fans, the Hawks are a strong second.
    LET'S GO RED-HAWKS!!!!
  15. David
    15. Posted by David Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    Yes, now that "Dollar Bill" is gone, I will go to a Hawk's game. Enough of the 46 year rebuilding program..
    I would prefer the outdoor game at Soldier Field vs. Wrigley...
    Please remember, Soldier Field has hosted over #100,000 fans for a high school football games...
    Since the Blackhawks were uncompetitive, I migrated over to the Wings, it will be a great game.
    DCH
  16. Lance
    16. Posted by Lance Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:55 pm EDT

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    ANY outdoor hockey is great! The Winter Classic beats boring bowl games for New Years Day TV. Although I do question showcasing the Blackhawks - let them actually make the playoffs first! If you want to showcase the West and bring fans in, how about the Wings playing the Bluejackets? The latter has Ohio State's football stadium, you have Michigan v. Ohio (St.) for a rivalry, and the Jackets have the most exciting player no one has heard of, Rick Nash.
  17. Crip
    17. Posted by Crip Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT

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    Wrigley is wrong...too small and would be a crap place to see a game. I agree that Soldier Field would be best with The Cell being a close #2 (Exploding scoreboard for any goals, jumbotron, the nest ballpark dogs and sausage on the planet, etc). The Hawks/Wings rivalry should be peaking in the next few years should the Hawks continue on their comeback trail.
  18. takes16wins
    18. Posted by takes16wins Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    where ever it is.. i'm in...roof tops...sweet
  19. Greg
    19. Posted by Greg Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Where you say: “….Western Conference deserves a taste of this gimmick sooner rather than later”
    You forget that the Western Conference had the FIRST official outdoor NHL game in Edmonton (vs Montreal) in 2003.
    With that being said, I really hope the game is NOT at Wrigley. When Edmonton can have 60000+ and buffalo have 70000+ attendances for this type of event, don’t you think it will look bad on Chicago that they will only have 35000+ or what ever small amount of people Wrigley can hold. Plus can anyone be sure the plumbing at Wrigley will work in the winter.
    Anyways, thanks for the article.
    Greg
  20. matt_h
    20. Posted by matt_h Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:32 pm EDT

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    HawksWin, the field is not in shambles. It has been redone and is in great shape. Of course, putting a hockey rink on it won't do it any favors.
    And leave it to a hockey writer to misspell Harry Caray's name.
  21. jakes
    21. Posted by jakes Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    I just hope this game won't be scheduled for Jan. 1st. It's bad enough that the Red Wings' finals games are occuring at the same time as Piston playoff games. I'd hate to see this game occur at the same time as a Michigan football bowl game. If that happened, I wouldn't be watching hockey.
  22. Jack
    22. Posted by Jack Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    I think the best place for the game would be the frozen over East River

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