(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The weather could pose a challenge to Tuesday’s NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.
The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are scheduled to face off at 4 p.m. – with the air temperature likely above freezing. This is the seventh time that the Blackhawks will take to the ice for an outdoor hockey game.
A custom-built, more than 50-foot mobile refrigeration unit is designed to keep the ice surface at "an ideal 22 degrees."
It needs to be around two inches thick to handle the game. Ice at an inside NHL rink is usually one to one-and-a-quarter inches thick.
Other preparations for the game included three stage areas, modified seats and banners with fake bricks and ivy – plus logos and statues for the Blackhawks and the Blues.
The Blackhawks will get the Cubs dugout and Clubhouse. The dugout is now covered with a bright red Blackhawks banner for the game.
Hockey Hall of Famers and Blackhawks alumni Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick and Denis Savard will take the ice for the ceremonial puck drop at 4 p.m. with a pregame performance by the Smashing Pumpkins.
Additionally, Chance the Rapper is headlining one of the intermission performances.
A pre-game fan festival is being set up in one of the regular Cubs parking lots, which will include games and food.
Special concessions include a beer hockey stick.
WBBM’s Rick Gregg and Brandon Ison contributed to this report.
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