June 11th, 2010
01:32 PM ET

'Let's go Hawks' chants rain down on Blackhawks parade

[cnn-video url="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/sports/2010/06/11/vo.blackhawks.parade.wls"]

Fans of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrated their team's Stanley Cup with a parade and rally on Friday.

Thousands of supporters lined up along Chicago's Michigan Avenue and other streets for a ticker tape parade to celebrate the team's win over Philadelphia.

Team players and officials rode in red double-decker buses as fans cheered them along the route.

As the buses passed, chants of "Let's go Hawks! Let's go Hawks" echoed from the fans celebrating the team's  first championship since 1961.

Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews rode in the last bus, holding the Stanley Cup as confetti poured down on the parade route.

SI.com: Watch highlights from the game

According to CNN affiliate WGN, those closest to the parade route waited at least six hours for a spot, forgoing water and bathroom breaks for a chance to be close to the Stanley Cup winning team.

"It means everything to me," Rodolfo Frias told WGN. "History is being made and I've got a front row seat to see it."

Crowds rushed into the street after the last parade bus passed, forcing police to keep them at a distance from the Blackhawks players.

After the parade, a championship rally attracted thousands of fans near the Chicago River.

Fire officials told WGN that a number of people had to be treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration at Friday's events.

Mayor Richard Daley said private sponsors paid for the parade and would not cost taxpayers any money.

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Filed under: Sports
soundoff (14 Responses)
  1. HawksWin

    Thousands of fans?! There were hundreds of thousands of fans at the parade, estimates are actually closer to a million.

    June 11, 2010 at 2:44 pm | Report abuse |
    • JimmyBeGood

      More like 2 million

      June 12, 2010 at 2:22 am | Report abuse |
  2. Nick

    Actually the estimates are closer to 2 million!!! it was purely INSANE!!!!!

    June 11, 2010 at 3:01 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Big Old Fan

    The City of Chicago should fire the person that approved the parade route and set-up for rally. The jumbo screen was inconveniently placed the sound was barely audible.
    I was trapped in the middle of the street with nowhere to turn. The crowd was very well behaved and just wanted a glimpse of their loved Blackhawks. It puzzles me why we would pass up a park large enough to accommodate the President, with ample room for a large crowd. But we decided to go and hide the guests of honor in a corner. Why did we pay millions of dollars for a park not to use it? They had the Bulls in the band shell. They did the same thing for the Sox on Wacker Drive. It doesn’t work unless Hyatt is paying the bill, because they had the perfect view.

    As Chicagoans we love our sports teams and we wait patiently for our champions. As fans, we want to honor the team. Unfortunately, we could only honor them without being able to see them at the rally. Bad planning by the city. The Mayor made the comment the parade was being paid by private sponsors. I don’t know why that was needed, monies generated from team ticket sales, parking and the added revenue of taxes brought in by the crowd should of covered expenses. Plus the city must approval any parade – someone head should be rolling for this fiasco.

    June 11, 2010 at 3:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • boosh

      Couldn't happen in the park because Blues Fest is going on this weekend.

      June 12, 2010 at 2:10 am | Report abuse |
    • Don P

      Why is there always one "wet blanket"? Give me a break......perfect candidate for "buzz killer" of the week

      June 12, 2010 at 10:01 am | Report abuse |
  4. Courtney

    It would be nice if Mayor Daley's name was spelled correctly on a source like CNN.

    June 11, 2010 at 4:20 pm | Report abuse |
  5. SharksFan

    congrats chicago...but what's even more history-making is the winning of the first Stanley Cup by a team. The Sharks are hungry. See you next year.

    June 11, 2010 at 4:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • Roger

      Give it a rest...how many years in a row can you guys say see you next year? Probably 49.

      June 11, 2010 at 10:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • CubsFan

      Roger: we have been saying it in this same city for over 100 years

      June 12, 2010 at 12:41 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Damiao

    http://www.englishtips-self-taught.blogspot.com help to spread this idea overseas....

    June 11, 2010 at 6:09 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Mark

    Chicago wins the Stanley cup....Obama is from Chicago....Coincidence...I think not.lol

    June 11, 2010 at 10:57 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Bill

    Congratulations Blackhawks – it was a great series and I'm glad you have such a good fan base – that's good to see and a thrill for your city. A longtime Flyers fan

    June 12, 2010 at 10:25 am | Report abuse |
  9. brady12

    Congratulations Chicago!!!! Well deserved. Seen one of our own " A MA. BOY"Jeremy Ronick cry on live tv!!! Congrats again !!! From Boston. GO C's!!!!!

    June 13, 2010 at 4:18 pm | Report abuse |
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