FIRST-TIME-EVER OUTDOOR NHL GAME IN CHICAGO GENERATES EXCITEMENT TO SPORT! 
Yes, I was there for the first hockey game ever played at Wrigley Field, the venerable home of the Chicago Cubs! It was a great experience and the atmosphere was really energetic.
Chicago Blackhawks President John McDonough hit a home run with the planning for this historic event and showed how important promotion is of any sport.
Arguably, the NHL has done a poor job of marketing over the years. But it’s also harder for Hockey to gain the popularity of other sports in the U.S. due to its annual battle against the “big three” – Baseball, Football, and Basketball. This is why the highly-promoted, outdoor Winter Classic on New Year’s Day can only help build the sport’s popularity.
The atmosphere created at Wrigley was dynamite. Within blocks of the park, you could feel the “buzz” of the event. The promotion in and around the park was spectacular and really provided a strong sense of anticipation and excitement. Bars were packed with fans willing to brave the weather to see pro hockey played outdoors.
Before the game, during the National Anthems of both the U.S. and Canada, two fighter jets flew over the 40,000-plus crowd, creating a strong sense of unified pride in our country and our passion for sports.
In talking with some hockey fans that day it was clear that the NHL would continue to hold an outdoor game on an annual basis. There has been discussion of holding an outdoor game in Boston at Fenway Park and there will probably be some talk of holding a game in New York City, at the new Yankee Stadium.
Whatever the future holds is unclear, but if the NHL continues to promote their sport in this way they can’t help but succeed in growing its popularity. On a local front, John McDonough has done a remarkable job with the Blackhawks in a short period of time. Yes, the team has also improved over last year and that never hurts. Hockey is back in Chicago and will gain momentum with more events like the Winter Classic.
JEFF ARDITO & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
