Wrigley Field added another chapter to its illustrious history on the first day of 2009 by hosting the National Hockey League (NHL). Having hosted the Chicago Cubs for nearly a century, the Chicago Bears for 50 years, concerts, and professional boxing matches, on January 1, 2009, the NHL skated into Wrigley Field and hit a home run with their outdoor game. With the ice rink set up between first and third base in the Wrigley Field, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings squared off for the 2nd annual Winter Classic. Nearly 41,000 fans braved the cool but perfect hockey weather to watch a classic game which the Red Wings won 6-4.
Credit the National Hockey League for taking a quantum leap forward after the critical success of last year’s first outdoor Winter Classic in Buffalo. “This is what we hoped it would be,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said shortly after the conclusion of the game. “It’s unique in the way that it takes the game back to its roots. It’s unique in the way the players react to it because it’s so special to be there on the ice. It’s something that we know can be a special part of our game if we do it right.”
Nearly 240,000 ticket requests, for the 41,000 available seats, were made for the Wrigley Field game. Sponsorship support was strong with a series of national sponsors coming on board in spite of the economic downturn. Sales of Winter Classic merchandise were expected to double from last year’s event in Buffalo. This year, there was an opportunity for the media to skate on the ice, which created more good news surrounding the event, as well as helping the ice mature. The team’s families were much more involved this year, and Detroit coach Mike Babcock pointed to the family skate after practice Wednesday as one of the highlights of the event.
The NHL allowed the public to skate on the rink the day following the game for a $10 admission with all proceeds going to charity. Choosing Wrigley Field as its second venue for their Winter Classic went without a hitch and was a home run in promoting professional hockey for the league.