MLB Cardinals Help Prepare Busch Stadium To Host NHL's Winter Classic

A crew of about a dozen workers for nearly two weeks "have put in 16-to-18 hour shifts building" the rink for the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic inside Busch Stadium, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. The transformation began with the "load-in, after which the mobile refrigeration unit pumped approximately 3,000 gallons of glycol coolant into custom-made aluminum trays that will serve as the base of the rink." The rink boards "went in next, and the first layer of water was being poured a week ago." NHL Senior Dir of Facilities Operations Dan Craig and his crew this week will "whiten the top of the ice and paint the requisite logos and lines." The rink will be "ready for use several days ahead of Monday's marquee event, and it can withstand any weather conditions that should arise." Rain will "freeze as quickly as it falls, and warm temperatures can be controlled by the refrigeration unit." Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III said, "Fans already know that we can do just about anything here, whether it's a big concert, soccer, football, special events, and now to have hockey on that list is pretty amazing. I think for us it's also just exciting to combine the symbolism of the Cardinals and the Blues, and also the city of St. Louis. Busch Stadium has the great city views of the arch and the skyline and bringing that all together is, I think, why St. Louisans are excited" (MLB.com, 12/26).