• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, December 3, 2008

After its successful outdoor NHL game last New Year's Day, NBC is ramping up promotions for the next one. An initial on-air spot plays off the game's setting in Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and where the late, legendary announcer Harry Caray sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

With Caray's rendition as background, the spot shows members of the competing teams, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, prepping for the faceoff by sharpening skates and other pre-game rituals. After Caray, NBC's Bob Costas wraps the spot as broadcast details appear on screen.

The game on NBC is tabbed the NHL Winter Classic 2009. Last year, the inaugural New Year's special was played in the snow in Buffalo and gave the league a publicity jolt.

The promo--which began running on NBC's NFL coverage last weekend--shows snow falling on Wrigley. Multiple NHL television partners are collaborating on promoting the game, including Versus, which carries the league on cable in the U.S.

NBC says the spot "pays tribute to the once-in-a-lifetime meshing of NHL hockey and Wrigley Field." The NHL is also buying billboards and other out-of-home promotions in the Chicago market.

The Winter Classic offers counter-programming to the run of college football bowl games that saturate other networks annually on Jan. 1.