Fighting Irish hockey team will play on Soldier Field
CHICAGO, Ill.-- On February 17, 2013, the Notre Dame hockey team will make history!
The Fighting Irish will be one of four teams to play in the first ever outdoor hockey game at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The details of the Hockey City Classic were released on Wednesday at Soldier Field.
Notre Dame will take on Miami of Ohio, while the University of Minnesota will face off against the University of Wisconsin.
The games are still regular season games, but that doesn’t mean the significance of the venue is lost on the players.
For the seven Irish Icers from the Chicagoland area, playing at Soldier Field is a dream come true.
“I always wondered what it’d be like to be a Chicago Bear running out,” said Irish Defenseman and Illinois native, Sam Calabrese. “I always wondered what it’d be like to be a Bears player but not a hockey player and to get that opportunity in Chicago, like you said, being from here and having a huge alumni network here it’s going to be unbelievable.”
The Notre Dame alumni network is extensive, but how will the crowd at Soldier Field match up to the fans at the Compton Family Ice Arena?
The CFIA averages about 5,000 fans per game. At Soldier Field, the Irish will be playing in front of 61,500 fans if the stadium reaches capacity.
“Anything we thought of before as loud I’m sure will be 10 times as much here,” said Calabrese.
If the event planners have their way, the turnout won’t disappoint.
“We hope to sell it out,” said Denis Savad, an Ambassador for the Chicago Blackhawsk. “I think that’s the goal. It’s a unique event.”
The Hockey City Classic is a two week event with winter activities at Soldier Field leading up to the big doubleheader on the 17th.
Activities include public skating, youth hockey and private events on the ice.
Tickets go on sale for the games on Oct. 1 and for more information on the Hockey City Classic click here: http://hockeycityclassic.com/