Blackhawks season ticket holders got information today about Winter Classic seating and pricing; the rest of us will find out about availability by next Monday. Included in the email was this seating and pricing chart:
Opinion: they have overpriced some of the tickets and underpriced some others. At those prices, this game may not sell out quite as quickly as they think it will.
0 recs | 46 comments
Wow...those are some pricey tickets
I can’t even imagine watching hockey from the bleachers. And I thought watching on TV was hard to follow.
Mordecai - October 28, 2008
Wow
I’m not sure that ANY of these aren’t overpriced. I’d put a value for a good ticket to this game at ~$40, tops. Then again, I’m not a big (NHL) hockey fan, so that might explain something
berselius - October 28, 2008
I think the $75 tickets are fairly priced.
The others are about twice what they should be.
Al Yellon - October 28, 2008
wow, that is expensive,
but I’m sure it won’t hold many people back, especially those buying through a scalper.It certainly won’t hold me and my small college budget back.
stadiumguru - October 28, 2008
wow...
my guess is that if you go to this game, you will
1) be VERY cold
2) not be able to see much (depending on seats)
…yet still have a good time!
cubswgnrocks - October 28, 2008
Oh, it will sell out
..there are people out in in CA talking about this game. I think the rink should have been laid out the way the football field used to be, though. I don’t think the bleachers will be a very good seat with this configuration.
In the football configuration, they’d be the best seat in the house
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 28, 2008
Yeah, people may have been talking about it..
… but I don’t think anyone expected it to be THAT expensive.
What they may have accomplished with this is to keep a lot of the $325 tickets off the secondary market.
Most of the bleachers won’t be good seats — but the CF bleachers, which are higher, might.
Al Yellon - October 29, 2008
I still have buyer's remorse
From paying $250 for a field seat for the Police.
gocubsgo22 - October 29, 2008
LOL
Me too.
Al Yellon - October 29, 2008
Are they putting temporary seats in the OF?
I sure hope not; I don’t want to see the new field ruined.
What will they do if it is warmer than expected outside? Soft ice makes for terrible hockey, as anyone who ever saw a game at Reunion Arena can attest.
DeRoMyHero - October 28, 2008
I don't think they are,
but I wish they would. Recreate the seats like they were for da bears in the 60s and 70s. It shouldn’t hurt the field that much, since it will be dormant, and it is just the turf, which is easily replaceable. Remember, da bears seats were in for several months, and the field survived, and this was in a day before the obsession with a perfect field.
As for the ice, the NHL will be installing cooling pipes under the field, so a warmer day shouldn’t be that bad. Remember, it is the middle of winter, so it won’t get that warm(watch it be 80 on Jan 1).
stadiumguru - October 28, 2008
Are they really...
…going to install cooling pipes under the ground, or will they be above ground with a raised ice surface? Installing those pipes underneath would seem to be quite a task, and would be brutal on the field. Also, the new field has drain tile not far beneath the surface, so that would probably force them to put the plumbing above the field.
MPH73 - October 28, 2008
When they did the game at lambeau
They put a layer of of plywood where the rink would be, and then they put the ice and stuff on. I don’t know how they are doing this. From what I’ve read, this is all stuff the NHL has bought for hosting future Winter Classics
TkGoUWGB - October 28, 2008
yep, everything is above the field.
I don’t see how they could put anything under the turf. As TkGoUWGB said, the NHL has purchased equipment to make this all happen, and make it easier. Last year everything was rented or “random” things. They bought metal sheets that connect like a giant puzzle for the base, as well as a refrigeration system, which I assume includes thin pipes and such that would go under the ice. The ice shouldn’t be more than 6 inches or so above the turf.
The NHL has the equipment, as well as the staff to host this event for many years to come, and fairly easily.
On another note, expect future games to be at venues with plenty of prep time. The NHL ice chief hated working last year on Christmas, with a short prep time because of the Bills, and he said he’ll never do that again. This year, they will have more than a week to get everything ready.
stadiumguru - October 28, 2008
That means...
… the games will either be at baseball stadiums, or at college football venues where they don’t play in December (presuming they continue to play this on New Year’s Day, which I think they want to).
Al Yellon - October 29, 2008
Cooling pipes under the field won't help if the temp is 50 degrees.
(Maybe it is theoretically impossible for Chicago to get to 50 on New Year’s Day, but I doubt it.)
The problem at Reunion Arena was that the A/C system was not good enough to keep the building cold enough to keep the ice from softening on top. The cooling system below the ice couldn’t help with that problem.
DeRoMyHero - October 28, 2008
ah, right.
That was the problem at the Igloo in Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup this year as well. Hopefully it will be cool on New Years day, and overcast. The sun’s heat on the ice will be another issue
stadiumguru - October 28, 2008
Really?
The NHL played a pre-season game at Caesars Palace outdoors back in 1991 in mid 80 degree heat. Here’s the story:
NHL Pre-Season Exhibition
Las Vegas, Nevada
September 28, 1991
New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Attendance: 13,000
The Las Vegas strip provided the background for the first ever NHL exhibition game to be held outdoors. The Kings and the Rangers battled under the lights outside Caesars Palace in mid-80 degree temperatures. The game drew a crowd of 13,000, most of whom wore shorts and t-shirts to take it all in. “We were a little bit in awe and I’m sure (the Rangers) were, too,” said the Kings’ Wayne Gretzky about the outdoor game. "We kept looking at each other and couldn’t believe we were playing hockey in 80-degree weather. But it was real nice."
Humidity outdoors (even on unusually warm days) is usually very low. I’m not too worried about the weather, unless it starts raining…
Moose
moose97 - October 29, 2008
Yeah, what's the RH in Vegas? About 8%
Thermally, the outdoor temp does affect the cooling needs but will not probhibit a system install. It’s logistics and the outright pain in the butt (not to mention the sod father just visited Wrigley this time last year) to drop a system in there below grade.
blackhawk24 - October 29, 2008
Inside the United Center...
…it is probably at least 60 degrees, so a warm day is not going to matter. The cooling system is designed to work under those conditions. The biggest thing that can screw things up is rain.
MPH73 - October 29, 2008
Nothing below grade level
It’ll all be above, and only a few inches additional height difference. While it’s possible to embed a cooling system beneath the field surface, it’s impractical to do that for one game only. They have plenty of prep time for this seasons’ event. The challenge will be to keep any settling from occuring since the ice is very thin.
For once, I guess we shouldn’t wish for the early Jan thaw. This past Jan (OK, its the 6th and 7th but close to the 1st) we had 50F-60F days back to back. I remember it fondly as it was a pleasure, actually to take down all my outdoor Christmas decorations.
blackhawk24 - October 29, 2008
Wow! Guess they're going for the corporate crowd.
That is the price range that will be able to afford the tickets.
Totally out of my range. To bad, it would have been fun.
cowsarecool220 - October 28, 2008
Ding! Ding! Ding!
“Corporate crowd” isn’t far off. This is a cash cow and nothing more. Despite the fact that this is technically a Chicago home game, it counts as a “special event” and the NHL itself is controlling everything. Of course, as a hockey fan, I can tell you that you can have complete confidence in the competence and fairness of the league offices …
head explodes from the sarcasm :)
Seriously, I hope they don’t screw it up too badly for the fans who want to go. And that no one gets frostbitten. Or rained on in an unexpected warm snap.
Baroque - October 29, 2008
Its overpriced
but it will still sell out and I’ll still do everything I can to get tickets cause it’s a one time thing and it’s gonna be awesome
mjk83 - October 28, 2008
yeah the $75 is all i can afford
Like I’ve said earlier, I’m willing to do a lot for this game. I haven’t gotten word from the rooftops. With how far away from the action. I’d give them $25, BYOB&F, and call it a day. I bet they’d sell alot of those and they should figuring its not a day they’d get money otherwise from those seats.
TkGoUWGB - October 28, 2008
The wind............
………….could be REALLY brutal on a roof top in January.
tville - October 28, 2008
Or, it could be 35-40 degrees...
… which it often is on Opening Day.
Al Yellon - October 29, 2008
What a testiment to fan-dom
Sitting high atop the field, upwards of double the height of the street lights, watching a game on a “field” less a tenth the area of the baseball field, with a sub-zero windchill? Wow!
Then again, it could be 50 and sunny.
blackhawk24 - October 29, 2008
I do not understand
Of course, that’s probably because I am not a hockey fan. But, pardon my ignorance, why are the top deck seats the expensive ones, and the field level seats the cheap ones?
helen - October 29, 2008
Because you'll have a better view of the rink from higher up.
Some of those terrace reserved seats won’t be able to see much at all — that’s why the back rows are overpriced.
Some of the upper deck seats — the ones in the corners — are overpriced, too. There are some $75 seats that may have better views than the corners of the upper deck. They should have made more price tiers.
Al Yellon - October 29, 2008
I'm not the biggest hockey guy either
but I can’t imagine the Bleachers being the best seats in the world either. Won’t the “boards” pretty much obstruct any kind of view of what’s going on on the ice? Or am I picturing this wrong??
BMoney79 - October 29, 2008
Depends how high up you are.
That’s why some of those $225 seats aren’t going to be very good.
Al Yellon - October 29, 2008
Actually, no
The bleacher seats start about 11-12’ above the field surface. The dasher boards are only a few feet high. The glass is a few feet higher than the boards, even higher and the ends of the rink.
It really won’t be that bad from a viewing angle just that you’re 150-250’ away from the rink. And that would be from the 1st row bleachers.
blackhawk24 - October 29, 2008
I'm going to shoot for the area
around sections 137-138. Even though the upper deck will have a better view, being at mid-level of those field box sections would put me up high enough. It’d be similar to the section X mezz tickets I had at the Stadium for year, though many feet further back.
Given my UC location and the fact they’re calling upper seats the ‘best’, I should be able to score my 4 tickets in the 137-138 field box.
blackhawk24 - October 29, 2008
The lower box sections in the LF and RF corners...
… may be decent seats too, and the price is right. Those would be behind each goal.
Al Yellon - October 29, 2008
That's what I was thinking
I’ll probably be aiming to get seats in those general areas.
McCarron - October 29, 2008
hmmn
I think the sightlines issue could’ve been rectified had it been held at Soldier Field or US Cellular.
I understand McDonough is running things, but I just think people aren’t going to be as happy with the sightlines they get for some of those $75 tickets. I can’t imagine a season-ticketholder being too happy with a seat worse at Wrigley than they have at the UC.
cubby23 - October 29, 2008
Here's the thing, though.
People, for the most part, aren’t going to watch the game. They are going for the experience (sound familiar?).
First off, The Cell wouldn’t have been any better, and Soldier Field wouldn’t heve been much better. Hockey is designed to be played in a building with seating along the glass all the way around, and steep inclines. As soon as you get farther away from the puck, it’s tough to see. These outdoor games are a gimic, and they are drawing attention to the sport, which is all the NHL wants. They get ESPN to talk about the sport, which they don’t do the other 364 days of the year.
So, put an up-and-comming team in one of the most iconic ballparks in the country (with a built-in beer garden-of-a-neighborhood), and folks will have a good time. Who cares if they can see the puck? 99% of the people will leave happy. Those that can’t get in, will watch on TV, and wish they were there. That’s what happened last year in Buffalo. Do you really think most of those people could see the game, let alone the puck through the snow at that game?
Bottem line, it all about the experience. As a hockey fan, I’d love to be there. I don’t live in Chicago, so I won’t be there, but I’ll watch and wish I was…
Moose
moose97 - October 29, 2008
McDonough is not running things
The NHL and the Cubs to a secondary affect are running things. Actually the Blackhawks brass doesn’t have that much of a say about things overall.
I won’t care about the sight lines. As stated earlier, I’m shooting for field box 137/138 area. I may consider club boxes right in front of that but either way, it’s behind the nets for me.
blackhawk24 - October 29, 2008
Prices are ridiculous...
I split season tickets for the Sharks, 20 rows up on the blue line. Had they advanced beyond round 2 (which never happens) the tickets would have cost me $173 each. FOR THE STANLEY CUP FINALS!
To pay $225-$325 (that top is price nearly double with TM charges what I would have paid) for this outdoor circus is insane.
bison - October 30, 2008
Also remember
that the Stanley Cup Finals are played every year, and that you’d have at least two chances (if not three or four) to see them (if your team makes it, in a given season). This is a one shot deal (‘Hawks at Wrigley). If you miss it, it isn’t happening the next day, let alone next year, or ten years from now.
With that said, if you chose not to go, there are people who will, just for this reason.
Moose
moose97 - October 30, 2008
Face value for last year...
was $29-$203 in Buffalo.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07262/818609-61.stm
bison - October 30, 2008
You forget
that there aren’t half as many seats for this game as there were for the game in Buffalo. Ralph Wilson holds 74,000, and Wrigley holds 41,000. Now subtract all the club box infield seats at Wrigley (plus the CBOE and Front Row seats), since those are being “given away” to yocal youth hockey teams because of poor visibility, and what kind capacity are we talking about here? 35,000 at best?
It’s called supply and demand, and while you folks may sit and say it’s overpriced, I’d be shocked it this wasn’t sold-out. Go back and re-check my post about the “experience” this will be. People will pay.
Moose
moose97 - October 30, 2008
I didn't forget anything...
just posting those prices for comparison’s sake. Many of those seats in Buffalo could barely see the rink, much less the puck.
Sure, it will sell out. I’m not sure why the entire upper deck is the same price, most of the 400 level seats range from pretty good to great views, while the 500 level will be hit-and-miss with the pillars. But I suppose they know the market and all that.
bison - October 30, 2008
Not only will it sell out
what ever tickets go on sale to the general public will be gone in 10 minutes.
As for the club box seats in general. My guess is only the first 5-6 rows will not be that great. The upper half to 2/3rds of the club box seats will be OK, not great but OK.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they add temporary seating along the NE long-edge of the rink. I heard it won’t happen but its hard to believe they’d blow it off completely.
blackhawk24 - October 30, 2008
I don't think they want to put anything on the field other than the rink.
Al Yellon - November 1, 2008
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