Exciting Entertainment Lineup Announced for NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field will host a monumental New Year’s celebration as part of the Discover NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey match between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, showcasing live performances by local stars Chance The Rapper and The Smashing Pumpkins, appearances from Blackhawks and Blues legends, an on-field party with a DJ and celebrators, and the welcoming of 2025 globally during the game. The game on December 31 will start at 4 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. ET.

The iconic alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins will launch the celebrations. The band from Chicago, featuring original members Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and James Iha, will play a selection of its biggest hits, such as “Tonight, Tonight,” before the game and during player introductions. Since their inception, The Smashing Pumpkins have sold more than 30 million albums globally and received two Grammy Awards, seven MTV VMAs, and an American Music Award.

Since the 2008-09 season, Jim Cornelison has been the Blackhawks’ anthem singer and will sing the U.S. national anthem along with organist Carrie Marcotte. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available through the League’s collaboration with P-X-P, featuring Nathaniel Kelly as the Deaf artist and Samantha Taplin as the ASL interpreter.

Members of Army and Air Force ROTC from various universities in the Chicago area will present the colors, while members of the United States Coast Guard from bases throughout Illinois will display the U.S. flag. The opening ceremony will end with a flyover that includes four Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II planes from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard. Hockey Hall of Famers and cherished Blackhawks legends Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, and Denis Savard will subsequently step onto the ice for the ceremonial puck drop.

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Grammy Award-winning musician Chance The Rapper will be the main act for the inaugural intermission performance sponsored by Ticketmaster. During the event, the Chicago native artist will receive his inaugural RIAA Diamond Award for “I’m the One,” his hit collaboration with DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, and Quavo, marking him as the first independent solo artist to accomplish this.

New Year’s Eve revelers in right field will enjoy the festivities during the game as cities globally welcome the new year. In the course of the second intermission, the New Year’s Eve celebrations will dominate the field, turning the stadium into a dance party led by DJ Oreo, a prominent figure in Chicago’s music scene.

Additionally, at the second intermission, the League will kick off the 2025 festivities by highlighting the Blackhawks’ and Blues’ First and Second Quarter-Century Teams. The NHL’s Quarter-Century Teams recognize the top players from the last 25 years.

During the game, the auxiliary rink in left field will accommodate young hockey players, aged 4 to 12, participating in the NHL/NHLPA’s Learn to Play program in the Chicago region. The field layout for the Discover NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field will showcase icy waterways, pathways, and bridges around the rink, creating a cheerful holiday ambiance.

Image Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports