WRIGLEYVILLE — If you couldn't be in the United Center for the first Stanley Cup win in Chicago in 77 years, Wrigleyville was a good backup plan.
Thousands of fans filled Clark Street outside Wrigley Field Monday night to celebrate the Blackhawks' victory, taking over the streets and partying in a sea of red.
While officers largely remained smiling during the post-game celebrations, a couple of tense moments at intersections near Wrigley Field resulted in smashed windows of a police car and swarms of officers attempting to break up crowds close to 3 a.m.
Windows smashed on squad car near Clark and Addison. Neighbor said it happened at 1 am, shortly before mounted sweep. pic.twitter.com/Zs8lSisNrs
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) June 16, 2015Police officers allowed the crowds into the middle of Clark, but set up barricades to restrict more people from entering. As a result, several huge pockets of Blackhawks sweater-clad fans screamed and shouted and hoisted each other into the air.
A few blocks away early Tuesday, mounted police officers helped clear the intersection of Addison and Racine around 1 a.m. Fans crowded streets both on foot and in cars, honking and shouting at passersby.
Time to go. Clearing Addison and Racine intersection. #Wrigleyville @DNAinfoCHI pic.twitter.com/5KjCK6DpQX
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) June 16, 2015News crews flooded the area, too, with helicopters, rooftops cameras and street reporters drawing crowds that got even louder when the TV lights went on.
The Clark and Addison intersection, bathed in the red neon glow of the Wrigley Field marquee, drew a huge crowd. A second mass gathering was farther south on Clark, where Sheffield crosses the street. Even more fans packed that intersection to party as the Hawks finished off the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ayyy pic.twitter.com/1r3ZdgL0ry
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) June 16, 2015
Clark/Newport/Sheffield pic.twitter.com/VDpNmTm5hL
— David Lee Matthews (@DavidLMatthews) June 16, 2015
The huge crowd came despite a twist of fate from Mother Nature. The Cubs had been scheduled to play a night game Monday, but a deluge washed it out, sparing the neighborhood the double-dip of the Cubs game ending and the Hawks winning at roughly the same time.
Barricade at Addison and Clark super crowded, but police on the line in pretty optimistic mood. #Wrigleyville pic.twitter.com/PQJ6SWVj7Z
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) June 16, 2015
Earlier, fans lined up outside Wrigleyville watering holes in the drizzle. Even Chicago police officers craned to get a look at big-screen TVS showing the Lightning vs. Hawks Stanley Cup Final Game 6.
By the time Patrick Kane banged in his first goal of the Stanley Cup Final to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead deep into the third period, the neighborhood was ready to rock.
Closing Clark Street with barricades pic.twitter.com/OHmM0YUKmm
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) June 16, 2015
John Barleycorn. #Wrigleyville #BecauseItsTheCup pic.twitter.com/wDL2BKavlY
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) June 16, 2015
Wrigleyville also was the epicenter of celebrations in 2013, the last time the Hawks won the Stanley Cup. Police had to use mounted patrols that year to clear the streets.
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