I Am Shocked And Disappointed That The Blackhawks Aren't One Of The Teams Pursuing Outdoor Options
I LOVE this idea. Need ticket sales, but worried about covid-19 inside packed arenas, nbd just play the games outside. I can't believe every team isn't exploring these options. We've seen warm weather teams play outdoor games. You gotta think outside the box to save this season, apparently, and a full season outside is as outside the box as it gets. Bring hockey back to it's roots and play it on ponds across North America. Seeing the teams explore this option as the Bruins, Penguins, and the two Southern California teams is shocking and disappointing. Why aren't the Blackhawks doing this? I mean, yeah, historically they SUCK at outdoor games, but they are probably going to suck anyways. Better to play and suck than to not play at all.
Not to brag, but I have been to all of the Blackhawks outdoor games in the Chicago area. Ranked in order of experience:
1) Blackhawks vs Red Wings at Wrigley Field 2009
This was sweet. The Winter Classic was still a novelty. The Blackhawks were announcing their presence on both a national and local stage. I was hungover as shit after paying way too much money for a hotel party on New Year's Eve like an idiot, but you can blame my girlfriend at the time for that. Having said all of that, I can't imagine watching a full home slate at Wrigley Field. Sight lines were tough. Too far from the action no matter where you sat. The upper deck was a better viewing experience than the lower deck. That's how you know things are backwards. Can't go back to Wrigley for this. I am also very salty at the Rickets right now and I don't want the Wirtz Family to come in as a temporary tenant and bail them out with bonus gate revenue. Fuck that. Great experience but only once.
2) Blackhawks vs Penguins at Soldier Field 2014
Pretty sick night all things considered. The Blackhawks actually won. Snow came down pretty hard. Toews chirped the shit out of Crosby for diving
"stay on your fucking feet, Syd"
Better sight lines. One thing that sticks out in my memory is that all my beers froze. Beer slushies all night. Not the worst thing in the world and a problem that will be
3) Blackhawks vs Bruins at Notre Dame
Some of the luster was lost because the Blackhawks were awful that year, but playing a game in the house that Rockne built was an incredible stage. I'd kill to be back in that setting again, but realistically it's too far from Chicago to ever be a "home" site.
The truth of the matter is that there isn't an existing arena in Chicago that would be the perfect outdoor venue. They all sort of present their own problems. Which is why I propose…building one from scratch. There is the perfect location with infrastructure in place…Northerly Island
I sneaky LOVE Northerly Island as a concert venue in the summer. I've seen Ray LaMontagne, The Head and The Heart, and Nathanial Rateliff there. Very cool when the weather is perfect. Now imagine a rink built from scratch where they normally have the seats. A built out stadium with temporary seating that the organization can arrange however they see fit to maximize attendance, fan experience, noise, and sight lines while also maintaining social distancing. Orient the rink east-west so that when the wind comes blowing the through the Blackhawks have that frigid air at their backs for two of the three periods. That sounds like 1) found revenue. 2) a great experience and 3) a home-ice advantage worth at least one goal per game. Bear weather for the Blackhawks. You could probably even build a temporary overhang that keeps precipitation off of the ice. This is a great idea. I need it to happen. Soldier Field, Museum parking. Poke a hole in this, you can't. I'll be there in my pea coat probably complaining about the cold, but I just like complaining. The experience would be great. Make it happen.