Details Emerge On Blackhawks Victory Parade Friday

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 26, 2013 9:45PM

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications laid out how they're planning for the Blackhawks' parade and rally Friday.

We know the parade will begin 10 a.m. at the United Center. It will head east on Washington, then down Wabash and Columbus Drive until eventually making its way to Grant Park's Hutchinson Field for a 45-minute rally starting at 11 a.m.

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said there will be a zero tolerance policy on alcohol consumption among the people following the parade on the streets. Anyone who jumps barricades set up along the parade route will be arrested. Bomb sniffing dogs will be on patrol and all bags will be searched; backpacks will not be allowed.

"The City of Chicago is so proud of our Blackhawks, and we are looking forward to celebrating their championship with the best fans in the world," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. "We also ask fans to enjoy the celebration responsibly by respecting the city and each other."

That means don't break stuff.

There will be fenced-off entrances to the Hutchinson Field rally at Congress Parkway and Jackson Boulevard. CTA will add service to all routes from the beginning of the day through the afternoon. Metra is selling a special $5 pass Friday for riders looking to use those trains to reach downtown. City officials encourage people wanting to attend the rally to use public transit as most parking garages will be full, especially along the route.

Officials said Hutchinson Field is slated to hold 70,000 to 80,000 people and video screens will be set up for viewing the rally.

And, if you don't want to deal with the hassle, you can watch the parade and rally on TV. Most of the local networks will start broadcasting it beginning at 9 a.m.