CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz is in discussions with Ringling Bros. to change the November dates when the circus inhabits the United Center, forcing the Hawks and Chicago Bulls to be on the road for two weeks around Thanksgiving.
Wirtz said Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is on board, and Wirtz also said he'd like his team to be able to stay home in February when "Disney On Ice" puts the Bulls and Hawks on the road for three weeks.
"If we can renegotiate the (circus) contract, I've talked to Jerry about it, he'd be willing to do it, too," Wirtz said Tuesday. "It's just getting the Ringling Bros. folks on board. It's something we were trying to do anyway."
Wirtz was speaking the day after the NHL Board of Governors voted for massive re-alignment of the divisions and conferences starting next season. He said they are in "discussions" with Ringling Bros. about changing dates and indicated the Hawks and Bulls would like to be home for Thanksgiving.
"Anything we can do to help keep us in the building so we don't have to be out for two weeks would be a big plus for both the Bulls and the Hawks," Wirtz stated. "It's Thanksgiving, and even when we have the ice show in February (we'd like to stay). Those are key dates because there is not much else to do in Chicago."
Wirtz says even if they can't renegotiate with the circus -- Wirtz says they have "years" on their contract -- he's hopeful the circus trip might have a different itinerary.
"When these (west coast) games are during the week, it's hard to stay awake," Wirtz said. "Maybe the league will send us east now that we have to play every out of conference team home and away. That would be a plus, too."
Wirtz voted in favor of NHL re-alignment sighting "building geographical rivalries" as his major reason.
"I think it was good for the Hawks, good for the league and very much in favor of it," he said. |
3 comments:
History repeats itself, in 1929 the Garden wanted RBBB to yield Friday nights for fights. Sounds like Feld has a tighter hand on Chicago than JR had on NY.
Very interesting...Sadly in some markets of new venues and the rebirth of the NHL odd man out are the Shrine Circuses.....EXAMPLE: Consol Arena Pittsburgh..
When the Salomon's brought the St. Louis Arena for their NHL team they also had some conflicts with touring shows. In the late 60s - early 70s the Ringling show was out of the building for 3 or 4 years so as not the interfer with the Blues.
As time went on the Salomons began to need the money and Ringling returned. Don't know the year but it was the Blue Unit with the Samel's cage act.
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