June 17, 2015

Mayor Emanuel Announces Additional Blackhawks Parade and Rally Details to Celebrate The Team's Third Stanley Cup In Six Years

Fans Encouraged to Use Public Transportation; Free Tickets Now Available Online

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City of Chicago will celebrate the 2015 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, with a parade followed by a rally at Soldier Field. Free tickets to the celebration rally with the Chicago Blackhawks team and the coveted Stanley Cup trophy at Soldier Field will be made available at 12 noon today at www.ticketmaster.com. There is a limit of four tickets per person.

“The City of Chicago is so proud of the Blackhawks, which is why we are going to throw them a celebration that only Chicago can throw – and a celebration worthy of a hockey dynasty,” said Mayor Emanuel.  

PARADE ROUTE
Double-decker buses featuring the team and front office personnel will ride to the rally beginning at approximately 10 a.m.

The official parade route will begin at Monroe and Jefferson Streets and proceed east until Michigan Avenue. Fans who want to catch the downtown parade are highly encouraged to see them along this route.

There will be zero tolerance for drinking on the public way.

RALLY
At approximately 11 a.m., when the motorcade arrives at Soldier Field, the team will be joined by sponsors CME Group, AllState, The PrivateBank, Boeing, BMO Harris Bank and Bud Light, which are providing financial support for the day's activities, and the rally will begin.

Soldier Field gates will open to those holding their free advance tickets starting at 8 a.m. The parking lots at Soldier Field will open to the public at 5 a.m. Absolutely NO tailgating will be allowed.  

Public safety officials encourage fans with free tickets to arrive early for the security check prior to entering the stadium.

Due to the large crowd anticipated at the festivities on Thursday, City officials strongly encourage attendees to use public transportation in lieu of driving. Additionally, the Chicago Police Department reminds attendees that anyone carrying a backpack or large bags must undergo additional screening. Coolers are not allowed into the rally and there will be zero tolerance for drinking alcohol on the public way.

IMPACTED STREET CLOSURES
Residents, motorists and fans should expect traffic delays throughout the Loop due to the parade. For those that drive to the events, please be advised that Monroe Street will be closed from Halsted to Lake Shore Drive at 8 a.m. and access to many parking garages could be restricted.

Additional street closures may be implemented as necessary due to crowd size to ensure the public safety of pedestrians and parade attendees.


PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Officials are encouraging fans to use public transportation.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will offer additional service to customers traveling into the Loop on Thursday. 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. Detailed service information is available at www.transitchicago.com.

To speed travel and reduce lines, customers are encouraged to buy farecards in advance with sufficient value or to add enough value to their existing Ventra cards for their return trips later in the day. People going to the rally in Soldier Field should use the Roosevelt station.

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.

Riders should be aware that morning and evening rush-hour trains, as well as trains immediately before and after the event, are likely to be very full. Trains may depart early if they reach capacity so riders are advised to allow adequate time to arrive at the station and board the train.

Due to the event, bikes and alcohol will be banned from all trains on Thursday and quiet car rules will be suspended during both rush hours. Metra also will be adding security and increasing its police presence on trains and stations Thursday.

WATER AT THE RALLY
Unopened 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 Soldier Field.

# # #