The revival of the Chicago Blackhawks took another big step Tuesday, when the National Hockey League officially announced the 2009 Winter Classic will be held in the Windy City.

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The league's third outdoor game - and second Winter Classic - will take place on Jan. 1, 2009, between the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Blackhawks at historic Wrigley Field.

"It's important for all of our franchises to be healthy," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "But this is an Original Six franchise. Chicago is a great sports town and this is a franchise over the last few years that has had some difficulties. With some terrific young players, (Jonathan) Toews and (Patrick) Kane to name two . . . there is a renewed vitality, renewed revitalization of this franchise. Hockey fans, sports fans in Chicago have a lot of reasons to be very excited."

The game, which will be the 701st regular season-meeting between the two franchises, will take place at 1 p.m. ET.

"In addition to showcasing the excitement of today's NHL to the millions of Americans on New Year's Day, this game will also reintroduce America to the new Chicago Blackhawks," said Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz. "This is a team of young and talented players who are renewing our franchise's proud tradition. They'll see a team that represents the new generation of hockey, the next generation of stars. This is a great move forward towards our future and the Blackhawks' ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup."

The Blackhawks have taken major steps toward bringing the team back to a respectable level since Wirtz took over at Blackhawks as chairman in October, 2007, following the death of his father, William Wirtz, a month earlier.

Since taking control of the franchise, Rocky Wirtz has brought Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito and Stan Mikita back to the team as ambassadors, after the Blackhawks legends had distanced themselves from the franchise under the elder Wirtz's direction.

Televised home games, which were forbidden under William Wirtz's reign, have also returned.

The off-ice decisions, along with the on-ice performance, led by the young guns Toews and Kane, the Blackhawks have regained the love of Chicago fans.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Blackhawk organization, starting with owner Rocky Wirtz, president John McDonough, and general manager Dale Tallon, who have just done a tremendous job in getting the franchise up and running and revitalized," said Red Wings senior vice-president Jimmy Devellano.

"It's been very exciting to see. It's great for the league."

Wrigley Field was built in 1914 and is the second-oldest park in Major League Baseball. It has been home to the National League's Chicago Cubs since 1916 and was home to the National Football League's Chicago Bears from 1921 to 1970.

An NHL record crowd of 71,217 took in last winter's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, while the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens battled in the Heritage Classic in Edmonton on Nov. 22, 2003 in front of 57,167 fans.