Blues owner joining Stanley Cup celebration in Springfield

SBJ file photo

The Cup also will be featured at Harbell’s and Bass Pro Shops.

When the Stanley Cup comes to Springfield on Oct. 10, two St. Louis Blues executives and a former senator are slated to join in the festivities. 

The city of Springfield yesterday announced in a news release that Blues owner Tom Stillman and General Manager David Otto, as well as former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth, will attend a series of events as the NHL’s premier trophy makes its way through town.

The Cup is scheduled to appear at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Bass Pro Shops and at 7:30 p.m. at downtown bars Falstaff’s LLC and Harbell’s Grill and Sports Bar LLC. Across the street from Falstaff’s and Harbell’s, near the intersection of Park Central West and Campbell Avenue, the Cup will be displayed starting at 8:30 p.m. on an outdoor stage as a street party takes place.

Several businesspeople, including Springfield attorney Joseph Passanise, were among those that convinced the Blues to make Springfield a destination for the Cup after the team won its first championship earlier this year.

“Bass Pro Shops is excited to host the most legendary trophy in all of sports at our flagship outdoor store,” said Lee Beasley, general manager of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, in the release. “We proudly welcome and invite all fans to join us for this historic celebration and opportunity of a lifetime to pose with the Stanley Cup and celebrate our world champion St. Louis Blues.”

Passanise previously told SBJ $25,000 had been raised to offset the costs of the celebration. He could not be reached for comment by deadline on an updated figure.