Discover how NHL Winter Classic plans New Year’s Eve celebrations at Wrigley Field

This is the second time the Blackhawks have hosted a Winter Classic at Wrigley. The first was on January 1, 2009, when they lost 6-4 to the Detroit Red Wings. It’s the second time the NHL has played the Winter Classic at the same park more than once; The 2010 and 2023 editions were played at Fenway Park in Boston.

This is the first Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve, and the NHL is playing a big role in it. A stage area in right field, nearly completed, will accommodate partygoers and host a dance party during the second intermission, hosted by Chicago’s DJ Oreo.

“What’s unique is that we brought fans on the field for the first time last year,” Mayer said of the 2024 Winter Classic between the Seattle Kraken and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. “We thought it worked well, so they will be able to experience and watch the game up close. It just adds to the overall atmosphere and is the reason we moved from New Year’s Day to New Year’s Eve.”

Fans can also take part in New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world. As each festival takes place, the respective celebration is shown on the video boards in the left and right fields.

“Throughout the day and night we’ll just watch other celebrations. “Again, we want to kind of kick off the celebration in Chicago and have it right here at Wrigley Field,” Mayer said. “We know that once our game is over, everyone will be there. “I’ll hit the streets, go home and prepare for other parties, but this is the first New Year’s Eve party in Chicago.”

The league also wants to lean heavily on the acquaintances of Wrigley and Chicago. This game will have its own take on “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” similar to 2009, when “Take Me Out to the Hockey Game” was sung in the third period by former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg and the then-Blackhawks Ambassadors Denis Savard, Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito and Stan Mikita.

Chicago locals will be taking part in the entertainment. Two-time Grammy Award-winning alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins will kick off the festivities by performing some of their biggest hits, including “Tonight, Tonight,” during the pregame and player introductions. Grammy-winning rapper Chance the Rapper, also from Chicago, will headline the first intermission performance presented by Ticketmaster.

On the hockey side, former Blackhawks defenseman Chris Chelios and forwards Savard and Jeremy Roenick will be on the ice for the celebratory puck drop. All three were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (Savard in 2000, Chelios in 2013 and Roenick last month).

During the second break, the NHL will also begin its celebration of 2025 by spotlighting the first and second Quarter Century teams of the Blackhawks and Blues and honoring each team’s best players from the last 25 years.

The weather played its part in the preparations, and that should be the case for the game – the latest data from accuweather.com shows the weather on Tuesday will be cloudy, with a chance of rain and snow at times, and the high temperature will be 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

The stage is almost set for a rockin’ hockey party on an iconic baseball field.

“This is one of the great milestones in professional sports. We understand that, we’re honored to be here, we’re honored to have a second game at Wrigley Field, and our fans love it. “The response, not just from those in Chicago, but from NHL fans around the world, shows that they are truly excited to return to Wrigley,” Mayer said.

“I think they’re wondering what we have in store for the game and it’s up to us to deliver.”