Preparations underway for NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field

A giant mobile refrigeration unit and equipment housing a semi-trailer to create an NHL-caliber sheet of ice arrived outside Wrigley Field on Monday as final preparations for Discover are underway. NHL Winter Classic.

The Chicago Blackhawks will host the annual event at The Friendly Confines for the second time, and the St. Louis Blues will come 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 setting up the historic stadium track.

“Above freezing, it doesn’t rain or snow, so these are great working conditions for us,” said Andrew Higgins, NHL senior manager of hockey facilities and operations.

Teams placed banners outside Wrigley Field and also began work inside the stadium.

“They started covering the field, they put the armored pad in place. Once it’s completely covered, we’ll start our work by parking the truck and then starting all the plumbing connections to the field,” Derek King, NHL senior director for Facilities and Operations, said. hockey.

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King said they plan to start making ice on Friday, which should give it enough time to settle in with the first skates on the 29th.

“[To make the ice]We are going to build a stage platform, then we are going to place the aluminum trays through which the glycol passes in the pipes. We’ll use the refrigeration trailer to start cooling those trays. Once we get those containers down below freezing, we’ll start spraying water just like they do at the United Center. Our goal is probably to have about an inch and a half to two inches of ice. “We’re looking to replicate those conditions inside the United Centers for players on game day,” King said.

Building a hockey field inside a baseball stadium presents a unique challenge.

“For us it’s a matter of space. Our builds are similar whether we’re doing an NFL stadium or a baseball stadium,” King said. “We’re working in a smaller space, but our build is the same as anywhere else. Being in Chicago, being at Wrigley, it’s great. It’s going to be a really special event.”

Fans of all ages are already getting excited. Just over 11 miles from Wrigley, Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard helped dozens of kids from the True Value Boys and Girls Club cut the ribbon on a new outdoor sports field.

The project is part of the NHL Winter Classic Legacy Project, which carries out legacy initiatives in each host city.

This year’s Winter Classic marks the league’s 42nd outdoor game.

“We have contributed more than $8 million in legacy initiatives,” said Brian Jennings, NHL senior executive vice president of marketing and chief brand officer. “The ability to give kids this outdoor space is really critical. The league is committed to that because it’s important to not only learn about the sport of hockey, but also be outside and have fun with each other.”

During the opening ceremony, Jennings also announced that 200 local children and their families will attend the Winter Classic for free.

“Our ties here on the west side are real and long-term. We work here, we play our games here and many of our employees are raising their families here. We couldn’t be more excited about this project.” Blackhawks team president Jaime Faulkner said.

The sports field follows the Boys and Girls Club’s establishment of a 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 St, painted by local artist, sentrock.

“This is really a long-term investment that the Blackhawks have in Chicago. It’s been our home for almost 100 years. Add to that our desire to grow the game of hockey, so that at any time kids can take a stick and play.” They don’t even have to go on the ice, they can play it right here in Little Village,” said Blackhawks Foundation Executive Director Sara Guderyahn.

The New Year’s Eve matchup marks the seventh outdoor game of the regular season for the Blackhawks, and their second against the Blues, whom they previously played at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for the 2017 NHL Winter Classic.