Chicago Blackhawks fans are lucky to be able to call the United Center home. When you rank NHL stadiums, you constantly find the United Center in, usually sitting somewhere between five and seven.
This alone makes going to the Blackhawks a must during the NHL season. Regardless of how the team is playing, you know the United Center will provide a great experience and be fun for everyone, even if you're not a hockey fan.
However, while the United Center is a great place to watch a game, it's nothing compared to Chicago Stadium, or as fans are used to calling it, "Madhouse on Madison". This is where the Blackhawks called home from 1929 to 1994, and saw some of the greatest moments in Blackhawks history.
They won three Stanley Cups, one Presidents' Trophy, and 13 division titles, while in the Madhouse. However, what made this place so special was what happened off the ice.
Madhouse of Madison: The closest hockey has gotten to a seventh man
Chicago Stadium quickly earned a reputation as one of the loudest buildings in sports. It was even called the loudest building in the NBA while the Bulls played there from 1967 to 1994. This noisy, crazy atmosphere also translated to the Blackhawks.
A significant reason for the building's loudness comes from the way it was built. The stadium was triple-layered, allowing it to hold between 15,000 to18,000 people, and a closed quarter design trapped the noise inside the building. It also had steel trusses, which allowed the noise to echo throughout the stadium.
While the design and construction of the stadium elevated the stadium's noise level, this, of course, wouldn't have been popular without the fans. There are several games and moments when this crowd noise had a significant impact on the game.
Back in 1971, the Blackhawks were facing the Rangers in Game 7 of the semi-finals. Throughout the game, Hawks fans made their presence known, and when they scored the game-clinching goal, play-by-play announcer Dan Kelly said the booth was shaking.
Chicago did whatever it could to make as much noise as possible and create a hostile environment. Whether it's fans cheering and making a bunch of noise during the anthem, or the time that owner Bill Waltz took the horn off his yacht and put it in the stadium. Everyone did whatever it took to rattle the opposing team and make Chicago Stadium next to impossible to play in if you were an opposing team.
But what this arena is most famous for is the giant organ. It is the largest Barton organ ever built and was reportedly as loud as 25 brass bands. This organ turned an already loud crowd into a place where you couldn't hear yourself think. Al Melgard was a famous performer for the better part of 44 years and was a significant reason for the nickname "Madhouse on Madison" catching on.
Although the madhouse closed in 1994, its legacy lives on. Traditions like making noise during the national anthem continue to be a staple of the Chicago sports experience, and the passion of the fans was alive and well during the 2010s dynasty. It's a building that will live on in Chicago sports lore.
