Police, Business Owners Getting Ready For Rowdy Crowds If Blackhawks Win Stanley Cup
CHICAGO (CBS) -- With the Blackhawks on the cusp of clinching the Stanley Cup on home ice for the first time since 1938, Chicago business owners and the Chicago Police Department have been taking steps to prepare for championship celebrations on the city streets.
If there's a victory party, business owners hope fans celebrate with some restraint. Complicating matters for business owners and police is the Cubs have a night game against the Indians at Wrigley Field on Monday, so crowds in Wrigleyville will be that much bigger.
When the Blackhawks won it all in 2013, at least 31 stores on Clark Street in Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville were damaged.
The city has been ramping up security in anticipation of another possible Stanley Cup title.
While the Blackhawks have won two Stanley Cups since 2010, they haven't clinched while playing in Chicago since 1938, and winning the Cup in Chicago could mean even bigger celebrations on city streets.
In Wrigleyville, metal barricades have been set up to contain people to sidewalks, and help keep revelers safe.
The city took the same step two years ago, but fans jumped over the barricades and partied in the streets.
The Blackhawks clinched the cup in Boston in 2013, but right after the victory, many fans flooded out of bars in Wrigleyville, stormed down Clark Street and celebrated through the night.
At least 23 people were arrested for disorderly conduct.
The next day, glass filled sidewalks and garbage bins. Board-up crews sealed off damaged store fronts.
Sean Tehrani, who used to own the Fuel Station coffee shop in Lincoln Park, said his storefront windows were shattered and glass ended up in his coffee grinder.
"It was pretty upsetting," he said. "I mean, at the same time we're celebrating our team winning, but I wasn't expecting that."
Tehrani said he spoke with Ald. Tom Tunney's office and was told police would have "a lot of presence" Monday night on Clark Street.
Tehrani had a request for Blackhawks fans.
"Celebrate responsibly," he said. "I want to make sure that they don't break windows. It's a great team, and we want them to win. We just don't want them to loot and break windows."
Tehrani also owns Basil Leaf Café, where the Blackhawks brought the Stanley Cup in 2013 after learning about all the damage caused by rowdy fans.
Some local bar owners said they plan to serve drinks in plastic cups, instead of glass, so they're not used as projectiles to be thrown at storefronts.
