Winter Classic 2009 in Chicago

I’ve been watching the NHL Winter Classic, which has the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings facing off on an outdoor rink at Wrigley Field in Chicago. It’s been great seeing the action along with a room full of Cubs fans to boot.

John found this clip a few weeks ago. “There is so much about this commercial that gets me excited and gives me goosebumps all at the same time. Also makes me shed a tear for the late, great Harry Caray[wiki].”

This game is pretty big news, and an excellent event to get the city of Chicago even more involved with their young team filled with stars. My sister in law even found an article about a Napa Valley winery that created a “Winter Classic Wine”.

On its face, hockey wine seems a bit like opera beer. After all, watching a player pull his opponent’s jersey over his head so he can throttle him blindly doesn’t exactly seem like a Merlot-sipping occasion. But the league’s VP-consumer products marketing, Jim Haskins, said the league’s fan base is more of a wine-drinking crowd than the sport’s blue-collar stereotype suggests.” [Advertising Edge]

The social media realm has also been really excited about NHL Director of Corporate Communications Mike DiLorenzo who has been Tweeting about the event and included early photos of the rink being setup.

Photo credit: Mike DiLorenzo on Twitpic

Photo credit: Mike DiLorenzo on Twitpic

It’s been a great game and the reference to Tiger Williams when Eager celebrated his goal was priceless. There’s nothing like an old-time hockey game and there’s also no place like Wrigley.

Related Post: A New Year and the Winter Classic (2008)