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Blackhawks players arrive for the NHL Winter Classic against the Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A quartet of fighter jets fly above fireworks at the start of the NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Young Chicago Blackhawks fans get a chance to see the Stanley Cup at the fan fest on Dec. 31, 2024, before their team faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Blackhawks and Blues play in the first period of the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A fan drinks beer from a hockey stick-shaped cup before the NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Blackhawks fan Matt Johns plays air hockey in the rain with his son Patrick during the festival on Dec. 31, 2024, before his team faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans take shots with a puck on Dec. 31, 2024, before the Chicago Blackhawks faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans arrive under the marquee on Dec. 31, 2024, before the Chicago Blackhawks faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks players warm up with soccer in a circle for the NHL Winter Classic against the Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Fans cheer while the Chicago Blackhawks arrive on North Sheffield Avenue on Dec. 31, 2024, before facing the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans play on a giant air hockey table in the rain Dec. 31, 2024, before the Chicago Blackhawks faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans cheer on cue as the Chicago Blackhawks arrive on Dec. 31, 2024, before facing the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Workers wipe off rainwater on the right-field bleachers before the NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Blackhawks fans line up in the rain for the chance to see the Stanley Cup on Dec. 31, 2024, before their team faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks chairman and owner Danny Wirtz, right, arrives for the NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks players Connor Bedard, from left, Craig Smith, Nick Foligno and Ilya Mikheyev pose for pictures after arriving for the NHL Winter Classic against the Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Youth hockey players suit up for skating at intermissions during the NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Fans line up for events outside on Dec. 31, 2024, before the Chicago Blackhawks faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans line up for events outside on Dec. 31, 2024, before the Chicago Blackhawks faced the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fans cheer while Connor Bedard, left, and the Chicago Blackhawks arrive on North Sheffield Avenue on Dec. 31, 2024, before facing the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks center Connor Bedard and teammates practice on the ice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks center Connor Bedard practices on the ice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Fake ivy is added to the outfield walls on Dec. 30, 2024 before the Blackhawks and Blues face off in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Signage is displayed by the bleacher entrance and the Harry Caray statue on Dec. 30, 2024, before the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues face off in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks center Ryan Donato and teammates practice on the ice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The Blackhawks take a team photo before practicing on the ice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi and teammates take the ice for practice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Söderblom and teammates take the ice for practice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The sun sets while the Blackhawks skate with family and friends on the ice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno greets people as he and teammates take the ice for practice on Dec. 30, 2024, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Signage is displayed on Dec. 30, 2024 before the Blackhawks and Blues face off in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Signage is added to the outfield walls Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 before the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues face off in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno greets people during practice on the Wrigley Field ice on Monday, before facing the Blues in the NHL Winter Classic on Tuesday. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Billboards at Wrigley Field on Dec. 27, 2024, announce the Discover NHL Winter Classic matchup . (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, as the baseball diamond is transformed into a hockey rink for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, as the baseball diamond is transformed into a hockey rink for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, as the baseball diamond is transformed into a hockey rink for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, as the baseball diamond is transformed into a hockey rink for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, as the baseball diamond is transformed into a hockey rink for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
The marquee at Wrigley Field on Dec. 27, 2024, promotes the upcoming NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, as the baseball diamond is transformed into a hockey rink for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, for the NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Preparations continue at Wrigley Field on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, as the baseball diamond is transformed into a hockey rink for the upcoming NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Blackhawks and Blues. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
The teams are displayed on the scoreboard Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 before the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues face off in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Blackhawks players arrive for the NHL Winter Classic against the Blues at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
In the eyes of Chicagoan Conrad Brewer, 8, there was too much recognition of the St. Louis Blues in the form of statues, flags and other signage at the fan festival before Tuesday’s hockey game at Wrigley Field.
“Since it’s in the Chicago hometown, I think we should have more Chicago Blackhawks things than Blues,” Brewer said late Tuesday morning as a light rain fell on a parking lot a block north of the field, where festivities would go on until 3:30 p.m., a half hour before the NHL Winter Classic puck drop.
Brewer predicted that the last-place Hawks would prevail against their division rival, the .500 Blues, by a score of 2-1. The Hawks would strike first. Then the Blues would tie it up. Ultimately, the hometown squad would carry the day.
On the ice, St. Louis led 2-1 after the first period.
The Hawks were on a four-game slide and haven’t won an outdoor game since 2014.
A steady stream of fans in red and black equipped with umbrellas and ponchos — sprinkled with fans in royal blue and gold, also equipped with rain gear — were advised by greeters near the festival entrance on West Grace Street that to the left there was a free hot chocolate table for alleviating woes that possibly stemmed from the dreary weather and the recent poor fortune of Chicago sports teams.
The hot chocolate came with marshmallows infused with Pepsi.
At the festival, fans could wait in line to take a picture with the Stanley Cup, play a claw machine filled with hockey pucks, shoot pucks, challenge their friends to a game of giant air hockey, try to get an autograph from Blackhawks legend Denis Savard and buy merch.
On Tuesday afternoon, Wayne Gretzky spoke on a panel with Savard and Hawks color commentator Darren Pang.
A little after 10:30 a.m., when the festival began, the bar at the center of the wet parking lot wasn’t busy. But it wasn’t completely idle. Hayden Welch, a 21-year-old senior at DePaul University on winter break who came back to Chicago for the festival, said he had two goals for the day: get a glimpse of Lord Stanley’s Cup and Gretzky.
“I want to see the cup. I want to have a chance to see the ‘Great One,’” said the Wisconsin native, who was in town to attend the festivities with a friend and wasn’t going to the game.
Camille Bearden, 28, drove from St. Louis with her husband and another couple for the game and the festival. Bearden, who attends a few Blues games every year, said she was surprised by how many St. Louis fans were in Chicago.
She was enjoying herself in spite of the rain and liked the Skee-Ball-inspired puck shooting game.
“I really enjoyed Skee-Ball, but I was not very good at it, but it was fun,” Bearden said.
Nick Bostjancic, 18, of the southwest suburbs, was hanging out with his 13-year-old brother at the festival and planned on going to the game.
“We both play hockey,” Bostjancic said. “We’ve probably been fans since birth, whenever I could remember.”
A highlight of the saturated festival for Bostjancic was posing for a photo and having his own hockey trading card made. He wasn’t expecting many highlights during the game.
“I don’t think they’re going to win, to be honest,” Bostjancic said of his hometown team. “I’ve been to four outdoor games, and they’re 0-4.”
Licensed NHL artist S. Preston was selling a limited edition Winter Classic print at one table, which was protected by a tent like many of the tables at the festival.
The print was an illustration of the phrase “Madhouse on Addison,” a nod to the street where Wrigley is and the nickname for the Blackhawks’ usual home.
“A lot of my art is clever, fun,” Preston said. “I call it non-man cave art. It’s more artwork for the living room.”
The showdown at Wrigley was the Hawks’ fifth Winter Classic appearance and seventh appearance outdoors — where hockey originally was played.
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