Eight Steps to Becomming a Blackhawks Fan

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Oct 30, 2008 10:10PM

Hockey's been pretty much off our sports radar for the past few years. Between the sour taste left by the lockout a few years back and our general hatred of how Bill Wirtz ran his team, we passed our time during the cold Chicago winters exclusively with the Bulls. Given the anemic attendance numbers at the UC for Hawks games, we clearly weren't the only ones -- it's not like the fans were instead watching on TV at home. But with the end of the Bill Wirtz era and an exciting young roster, we've thought about giving hockey another chance.

Are you also thinking of jumping on the Blackhawks bandwagon, but weren't sure where to start? Or how to look like you've been one of the few who stuck with 'em through thick and thin? If that's the case, the Trib's here to help.

Their guide to becoming a Blackhawks fan includes tips in eight areas of fandom -- from getting tickets and getting to the stadium, to apparel, to the rules of the sport (example: you'll get a better view from the higher up seats).

The guide is hardly complete, however. While it mentions how to avoid the long lines for concessions during intermissions (head out with two minutes left in the period) it fails to mention that you'll be mocked mercilessly by the hockey crowd if you buy the veggie pizza, included on the menu to please yuppie Bulls fans. But we're no expert on hockey or the 'Hawks... so 'Hawks fans, what other words of wisdom did the Trib gloss over? What advice can you pass on to the noob hockey fans out there? And do I really have to grow a mullet?