Blackhawks Bar Near United Center (Chicago: photos, fun, advertise)

[Milwaukee City]

Originally Posted by chet everett

It is true that the NHL and Chicago Blackhawks are old school in actually cross promoting the enjoyment of their sport in tradtional bars / taverns unlike weenies that run other sports. Here is the full list of "official sports bar partners" of the Blackhawks...

Official Blackhawks Bars - Chicago Blackhawks - Fan Zone

Yeah Milwaukee actually has a "Official Blackhawks Bar" but it's probably not as fun as it would be if I were down in Chicago. I wonder what makes a bar an "Official" hawks bar?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Yeah Milwaukee actually has a "Official Blackhawks Bar"

I never understood why milwaukee/wisconsin doesn't have a pro hockey team....but maybe I just am misinformed about any sort of hockey culture there.

[Ace Rothstein]

Originally Posted by marothisu

I never understood why milwaukee/wisconsin doesn't have a pro hockey team....but maybe I just am misinformed about any sort of hockey culture there.

Bill Wirtz didn't want a team there.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by marothisu

I never understood why milwaukee/wisconsin doesn't have a pro hockey team....but maybe I just am misinformed about any sort of hockey culture there.

The Admirals have produced a pretty decent AHL experience -- Milwaukeehockey.com - Milwaukee Admirals AHL hockey

Minnesota has had ups & downs with its NHL franchises over the years, the widely held theory is that the realtively long schedule tends to stretch the budget of the small market advertisers who cannot afford to cough up the kind of sponsorship money as those in more metropolitan areas. Despite the Twin Cities and surrounding parts of Wisconsin compromising the 15th largest metro region, many of the small businesses of the area have a very small town mindset and folks on the Badger side if the river do not respond to the same pitch as those on the Gopher side... There is also a theory that folks in MN & WI would rather be outside skating on their own rinks or hunkered down in a tree stand waiting for a buck than watching TV...

The Wirtz theory would fit given the extreme clout he had with League organizers but the NHL has some pretty ruthless marketing people and if they could track down owners with deep pockets / advertisers that wanted to sponsor games in Milwaukee there is no doubt that they would gladly award a franchise. The city is 28th largest in the nation -- for comparison Columbus OH, home to the Blue Jackets, is 15th. The "metro region" is more ambiguous with Milwaukee's at 39th (though that arguably includes some areas more aligned to Chicago area sport/media) while Columbus' is 32nd....

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I wonder what makes a bar an "Official" hawks bar?

Probably paying some sort of fee and/or doing promotion at the bar. It doesn't really matter, though, as pretty much any sports bar in the metro area is a Blackhawks bar during game time when the team is in the finals. If I were staying in Naperville and wanted to watch the game I'd probably just go to a sports bar out there rather than coming into the city. A sports bar is a sports bar, as long as you have a big TV, good food and beer, and lots of cheering fans, right? There are lots of bars worth coming into the city for, but sports bars aren't among them, IMO.

[chet everett]

For folks unfamilar with perhaps the fastest, most emotionally charged professional sport it may seem that a "sports bar is a sports bar" but beleive me places that are fine for football, basketball or baseball may SUCK for hockey fans.

The relative lack of time outs, especially in the event of a close game / OT means having staff that blocks ones view trying to bring out the next round can RUIN the experince far more easily than the relatively languid pace of other sports.

If one has ever experinced the raucous cheers of The Mad House on Madison or other hockey venues, especially in Original Six markets, the degree to which "up" moments are met with explosive cheers and bad calls / blown plays are met with derision is orders of magnitude more enthusiastic than any other sport. Truly hockey fans are more like the global soccer / football fanatics than other US sports supporters. (I have watched cricket with friends / coworkers that have played the sport in their native country and its pace is nothing like other sports...). While nothing can substitute for the blast of the locomotive air horn at United Center having a siren circling the faces of patrons at true hockey bars comes close.

For these reason, as well as committment to the kind / quantity of large HD TVs that truly make hockey a different viewing experience than years past I strongly recommend seeking out a REAL hockey bar and the closer one can get to the United Center for a home game the more intense the experience will be...

Originally Posted by ChiNaan

Probably paying some sort of fee and/or doing promotion at the bar. It doesn't really matter, though, as pretty much any sports bar in the metro area is a Blackhawks bar during game time when the team is in the finals. If I were staying in Naperville and wanted to watch the game I'd probably just go to a sports bar out there rather than coming into the city. A sports bar is a sports bar, as long as you have a big TV, good food and beer, and lots of cheering fans, right? There are lots of bars worth coming into the city for, but sports bars aren't among them, IMO.

[nearnorth]

I realize that being irrationally contradictory at any cost is your schtick, Chet, but ChiNaan was essentially just agreeing with what you said here:

Originally Posted by chet everett

Hockey goes together with beer and big screen TVs better than any other sport. Every wing store / scantily glad barmaid place / national generic sporstbar / eatery will be exploiting that fact and the game is on national broadcast NBC so even mom & pop dive bars will be acceptable viewing.

You'd be taken more seriously here if you only argued with people when they disagree with you.

[chet everett]

See how uch difference a little CONTEXT makes --

Originally Posted by chet everett

Hockey goes together with beer and big screen TVs better than any other sport. Every wing store / scantily glad barmaid place / national generic sporstbar / eatery will be exploiting that fact and the game is on national broadcast NBC so even mom & pop dive bars will be acceptable viewing.

That said the experince among true hockey fans is worth the little bit of effort to find a REAL hockey bar where they do stuff like sound the siren for home goals. More fun with a home crowd!


If you wanna stay near Naperville you can help support the family of a former Blackhawk star --

Chelios Pub and Grill - Aurora | Urbanspoon

It is nice enough sports bar and the Chelios family are a local hockey dynasty.

The traditional ne plus ultra of Chicago hockey fan's is on Taylor St:

Hawkeye's Bar & Grill is located in the heart of the historic Little Italy district in Chicago

You can count on all the HD TVs being tuned to the game.



Fairly close to UC are two newer places that actaully have really good food, air conditioning that actually will keep the place cool with the heat and humidity-- expect an awesome atmoshere. These are upscale places that take reservations and the expectation is that if you reserve a table you will be eatings a meal and have a crowd:

Market Bar Chicago


Park Tavern - Near West Side - Chicago, IL

It is true that the NHL and Chicago Blackhawks are old school in actually cross promoting the enjoyment of their sport in tradtional bars / taverns unlike weenies that run other sports. Here is the full list of "official sports bar partners" of the Blackhawks...

Official Blackhawks Bars - Chicago Blackhawks - Fan Zone


If you are a wretched human being that is rooting for the team with the yellow B at center ice I hear there is a semi-official group of Beantowners that gather at Brendan's in Lakeview...

[rvernsey]

If you decide to stay in Naperville, hit Foundry. Place is RIDICULOUS. My sister lives out that way and I have been a few times.

[Milwaukee City]

The only place I've been in Naperville is peanuts, I don't know how good it is during a hawks game.