WRAL Sports Fan

Triangle has what it needs to host All-Star Game

By Mike Maniscalco
Jan 23, 2009

There is plenty that goes into hosting an NHL All-Star game.

So when the league told Raleigh in the past it was concerned about convention space and hotel space, I can buy that as a reason for not holding the game here.

Today is a different story as Raleigh is armed with a new convention center and new hotels ready for the influx of players, officials, media and fans.

I covered last year’s game in Atlanta, and the advantage of having a big-city host is clear because there is no need to do a lot of driving.

But Raleigh doesn’t have the traffic problems you have to deal with in Atlanta, so the time it takes to get from place to place really washes out.

So a quick check list of things needed to host this event:

• A major-league rink … RBC Center … Check
• A convention center or area big enough to host the NHL party … new Convention Center … Check
• Restaurants and hotels to accommodate the event size … Check
• Area to have post game festivities after the event … Glenwood South … Check

Mass transit will have to help out with the out-of-town fans wanting to get from downtown to the RBC Center, and that will pose a small problem. The city should be able to coordinate that well before the All-Star Game hits town.

However, the difference between Raleigh and Atlanta hosting the event is not that great. And it will be interesting to find out what the NHL decides after their fact-finding mission to the Triangle.

Most Recent Comments

By thirdandlong
Posted Jan 24, 4:18 p.m.

Rank: Towel Boy
Posts: 4
Joined: Jul, 2007
Location: Cary, NC

• Report this post
• Reply with quote

RE: Triangle has what it needs to host All-Star Game

Never happened tons of fair weather uneducated hockey fans here.....take it to Boston, Buffalo, NY/NJ not Raleigh.....have you ever noticed the number of Hurricanes flags that go up on cars when they are in the playoffs??? This is and always be a college sports town and a town of fair weather fans in pro sports!

By dwofford
Posted Jan 24, 9:48 a.m.

Rank: Towel Boy
Posts: 18
Joined: Dec, 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC

• Report this post
• Reply with quote

RE: Triangle has what it needs to host All-Star Game

I am a full season ticket holder, and while I would love to see us host the games, I do not believe the area is ready. Actually, the triangle is missing quite a few things for a successful All-Star game. I attended last year's game in Atlanta, and they have what we are missing. First, there are no hotels within WALKING distance of the arena (OK, one small Ramada probably qualifies). Second there is NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, which means all participants will need cars of some sort. Third, we couldn't even fill the arena for our Stanley-Cup run ... so I wonder how committed our fan base might be to supporting this. Finally, we have a beautiful new convention center that is miles away from the arena. Urban sprawl could be what stops us from getting the games, and the lack of infrastructure remains an issue.