City To Auction Off Blackhawks Banners
CHICAGO (WBBM) -- The city of Chicago will be auctioning off banners that have been hanging above the streets and Chicago Blackhawks banners are expected to be the biggest draw.
From noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Daley Center, the city hopes to get through about 60 lots of banners -- among them, banners celebrating the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup championship, the 10-10-10 marathon, and the 50th anniversary of Second City.
Cindy Gatziolis, spokeswoman for the Mayor's Office of Special Events, said that bidding usually starts at $25 to $100 and goes up from there.
"For example, last year the 'Yes We Can' banner went for $1,200. We had a playoff banner that went for $1,200 and they didn't even win the whole thing. And even a World Series banner last year went for $800," she said. "So there's still a lot of interest, and when you get the folks bidding against each other, that price goes up."
There's even a set of four smaller banners celebrating the last world championships of the Blackhawks, the Bulls, the Bears and the White Sox.
Conspicuously absent: the Cubs.
"1908 was a very long time ago," Gatziolis said.
Proceeds go to programs for job training, anti-hunger and holiday entertainment for needy children.