Chance the Rapper, The Smashing Pumpkins to perform at 2025 NHL Winter Classic in Chicago
Two of the most well-known acts in the music industry will be a part of the festivities at one of the National Hockey League’s premier events.
On Monday, the league announced that Chance the Rapper and two-time Grammy award-winning rock band The Smashing Pumpkins will be performing at the 2025 NHL Winter Classic.
The game itself will feature the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field in the Windy City.
The NHL announced Chicago’s own Chance The Rapper and The Smashing Pumpkins will lead the entertainment for the Discover NHL #WinterClassic, the Dec. 31 outdoor game at Wrigley Field between the @NHLBlackhawks and @StLouisBlues.
Full details: https://t.co/FZCB9yrhqw pic.twitter.com/1L2mIRoyBa
Both acts have strong ties to Chicago. Chance the Rapper was born and raised in the city, and is a Grammy winner thanks to iconic mixtapes. Fans should expect to see hints of his current project, Star Line, “an interdisciplinary endeavor that combines art, music, cinematography and community,” according to the release from the NHL.
Chance earned some notoriety in the hockey world thanks to his Saturday Night Live sketch that saw him portray NHL rinkside reporter Lazlo Holmes, which became an instant phenomenon. The musician will be performing during the intermission of the game on New Year’s Eve.
Alternative rock giants, The Smashing Pumpkins were formed in Chicago and have gone on to sell over 30 million albums across the globe. They will kick things off by performing prior to puck drop.
Portions of both acts, produced by NHL Entertainment, will be featured in the game broadcasts in both the United States and Canada.
The 16th edition of the Winter Classic will see the second time the home of the Chicago Cubs will hold the outdoor event, with the Hawks losing to the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. Chicago and St. Louis have already met in the Winter Classic. In 2017, the Blues beat the Blackhawks at Busch Stadium.