We live in an age where college football stadiums are being used to host hockey events, so it may have only been a matter of time before something worked the other way. Illinois is inviting national anthem singer Jim Cornelison to perform his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner when Illinois hosts Washington in Chicago’s Soldier Field on September 14.
Cornelison has performed the national anthem for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and become a local favorite in the process. The opera singer has performed with many of the world’s finest classically trained performers, and has been received well by the local sports community, where we do not tend to think opera blends well. But Chicago sports fans love him, and that is why Illinois is adding him o the festivities when Illinois marks their big day in Chicago.
Of course, rival Northwestern has been making a noticeable push to embrace Chicago and become Chicago’s true home team in recent years. Now it’s your move Northwestern. What tricks do you have up your sleeve? A live halftime performance by the Blues Brothers? Michael Jordan doing the Super Bowl Shuffle? Let’s see how you counter this latest move.