NHL Runs Wrigleyville Fest for Winter Classic
The National Hockey League is turning Wrigley Field’s Waveland Avenue from a haven for home run ballhawks to a street festival celebrating outdoor hockey in the run-up to this season’s Winter Classic game.
On Dec. 31, and New Year’s Day, the corner of West Waveland and North Clark Streets – prime turf in the Wrigleyville environs outside the historic ballpark – is being transformed into NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza, a free fan festival before the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley.
Wannabe wingers will be able to take virtual shots on goal against a projected green screen version of Detroit’s goalie Chris Osgood or Blackhawks netminder Cristobal Huet, courtesy of Verizon Wireless.
Verizon Wireless customers will be able to have video clips of their green screen shots sent to their handsets. Verizon Wireless will select the two best video clips and showcase them on the Wrigley Field Jumbotron during the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic game. Fans can text their vote for the best clip and the fan featured in the winning clip will receive a trip for two to attend the 2009 NHL All-Star Weekend in Montreal.
During the two-day festival, fans can play air hockey in the food and beverage tent sponsored by Bud Light and buy NHL Winter Classic 2009 merchandise in the NHL retail area. Honda will kick off its NHL activations for the year by showcasing its 2009 Honda Ridgeline and its 2009 Honda Pilot.
Fans in NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza will be able to view the team practices on a 14’ x 18’ LED video screen. WGN Radio 720 AM will broadcast live from Spectator Plaza on Wednesday and will give away a pair of tickets to the game.
Game-day festivities begin at 9 a.m., with six professional face painters, four juggles and four stilt walkers from Chicago-based Productions USA, Inc. providing entertainment. A local band, Maggie Speaks, will perform live from 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Verizon Wireless will also effectively extend the televised reach for the annual outdoor game by carrying it on its V-Cast Video service. Fans who subscribe to the service for $15 monthly can access the game for a $3 fee.
That play is in line with the young, high tech-oriented fans the NHL has been courting for the past several seasons. “NHL fans are the most tech-savvy in all of sports,” said Andre Mika, NHL senior vice president of broadband and new media production, in a statement.
The Blackhawks and Redwings will face off in the temporarily frozen friendly confines of Wrigley Field at 1 p.m. (ET) on New Year’s Day with NBC broadcasting the game nationally.
