Redevelopment of Norris University Center’s East Lawn to begin this summer
April 5, 2024
Northwestern University is proud to salute alumnus and Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz on a third Stanley Cup championship in the past six seasons. Read more below about Wirtz and his Northwestern connections.
Northwestern magazine: Fire on Ice
Alumnus Rocky Wirtz took over the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. The team was, in his words, irrelevant. But over the past eight seasons Wirtz has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround that led to the franchise’s rebirth and a place at the pinnacle of professional sports.
School of Communication: Rocky’s Hat Trick
It is now three wins in six seasons for Chicago Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz. He is a 1975 graduate of the School of Communication, a member of the Northwestern Board of Trustees and a member of the School of Communication National Advisory Board.
We Will. The Campaign for Northwestern: Wirtz Endows Performing Arts Center
Chicago Blackhawks chairman William Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz and his wife, Marilyn, gave support to the Campaign for Northwestern and the School of Communication in 2014 by creating an endowment to fund innovative student and faculty projects in the Theatre and Interpretation Center. In recognition of the multi-million dollar gift, the center was renamed the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, in honor of Wirtz’s grandmother, a 1924 Northwestern graduate.
The New York Times: When Ownership Changed in 2007, So Did the Blackhawks
The most common way to turn around a terrible sports franchise is to acquire better players or bring in a new coach. But in the case of the Chicago Blackhawks, the most important change may have been the passing of team ownership from a father to a son. Read the complete article in The New York Times. Registration may be required.
