The Chicago Blackhawks not only won the Stanley Cup last Monday, they managed to provide the most exciting final minute of any Stanley Cup final in history. They scored two goals within 17 seconds. The first one tied the game and the second one clinched the win. The amount of joy in this city is overflowing! We will get to celebrate in a big way this Friday. The City of Chicago will honor the 2013 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 28 with a rally in Hutchinson Field in Grant Park following a parade along Washington Street, starting at Des Plaines Street and going towards Wabash Street.
“The City of Chicago is so proud of our Blackhawks, and we are looking forward to celebrating their championship with the best fans in the world,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “We also ask fans to enjoy the celebration responsibly by respecting the city and each other.”
Fans are encouraged to cheer on the Hawks along the parade route (see below) or gather at Hutchinson Field, located on Columbus Drive between Balbo Avenue and Roosevelt Road, for a celebration with the team and the coveted Stanley Cup trophy.
RALLY
There will be two public entrances to the rally, located at Jackson and Michigan and Congress and Michigan. To accommodate the anticipated crowds, a jumbotron will be positioned at the side of the stage for enhanced viewing of the program and team, and additional jumbotrons will be set up on Columbus at Balbo and at Congress to accommodate the crowd.
Due to the large crowd anticipated at the festivities on Friday, City officials strongly encourage attendees to use public transportation in lieu of driving. For those who drive to the event, please be advised thatthe streets along the parade route and in the Loop could be shut down by 8 a.m. and access to many parking garages could be restricted. Additionally, the Chicago Police Department reminds attendees that anyone carrying a backpacks or large bags must undergo additional screening. Coolers are not allowed into the rally and that there will be zero tolerance for drinking alcohol on the public way.
PARADE ROUTE
Double-decker buses featuring the team and front office personnel will ride to the rally beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. from the United Center. The official parade route will begin at Des Plaines Street and Washington Street and proceed east until Wabash Street. Fans who want to catch the downtown parade are encouraged to see them along this route. From there the motorcade will proceed east to Michigan Avenue; travel north to Randolph Street and east along Randolph to Columbus Drive. The motorcade will arrive at Columbus and Randolph at approximately 11:00am. Fans may also attend the parade route along Columbus Drive, between Monroe Street and Balbo Street, heading south. When the motorcade arrives at the Hutchinson field rally site, the team will step off the buses to immediately start the rally. Remember, there will be zero tolerance for drinking on the public way.
IMPACTED STREET CLOSURES
All east/west streets located in between Roosevelt Road to Randolph Street from Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive will be closed for the celebration beginning at 12 a.m. They include Balbo Avenue, Jackson Street and Monroe Street, but Congress will remain open. Motorists should anticipate additional street closures as necessary due to crowd size to ensure the public safety of pedestrians and parade attendees. Officials are encouraging fans to use public transportation. In fact, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will offer additional service to customers traveling into the Loop on Friday. Riders are advised to allow plenty of travel time due to street closures, traffic congestion and reroutes. CTA’s Red and Blue subway lines and Brown, Green, Pink and Orange elevated lines are the best option for Blackhawks fans heading downtown for the parade and rally. Additional service will be provided on all eight rail lines following the morning rush period through midday. CTA buses will be detoured in the downtown area during the parade and as a result of street closures for the rally. Metra will be adding service on most of its lines and offering a special one-day only $5 unlimited ride ticket to accommodate Chicago Blackhawks fans attending the downtown parade and rally. Due to the event, bikes and alcohol will be banned from all trains on Friday.
Even though the temperature is predicted to be a comfortable 77 degrees its important to stay hydrated. Closed water bottles will be allowed into the rally, water fountains will be onsite, and water will also be available from onsite vendors during the rally at Hutchinson Field.
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