Hawks Fans Flock to 115 Bourbon Street for a Chance to See the Stanley Cup

Hundreds of devoted fans dressed in red, white and black waited outside 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park for their chance to see the Stanley Cup Wednesday night.

Inside, Blackhawks trainer Mike Gapski's private party with the Cup roared with the sounds of live music, cheering and laughter. But as time dragged on, the mood outside the restaurant became somber as many realized they would not get tickets to see Lord Stanley's silver chalice. Around 7:30 p.m., a full hour and a half before the scheduled viewing time, Bourbon Street ran out of wristbands and began turning people away.

Derek Tavares and Vinny Roman, of Tinley Park, arrived at Bourbon Street well before wristbands went on sale at 6:00 p.m. They came to the restaurant at about 3:45 p.m., where they ordered food and were told the line most likely wouldn't start forming until 5:30 p.m. According to their watch, the line began to form at 4:30 p.m.

After getting their wristbands, the pair had to wait three hours until 9 p.m. to see the Cup, but they both said it was worth the wait.

"We stood in line at the rally for, what six, seven hours just to see them hoist it up in the air," Roman said. "I'll wait half of that to be able to take a picture with it. It's once in a lifetime."

Other fans, like mother and daughter Peggy and Marissa Schultz, came from as far away as Plainfield to see the Cup. Peggy said the afternoon was filled with anxiety as she and her daughter waited for an hour and 20 minutes, unsure if they would get their chance.

"It was an opportunity that we figured we'd have a chance maybe to get in and see it, so we took it," Peggy Schultz said.

About 1,500 people were able to get a pic with the trophy, according to Bourbon Street. 

All money from the $20 wristbands went to Blackhawks Charities. Photos from the event will be available on Bourbon Street's website starting next Monday.