Triangle has what it needs to host All-Star Game
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.
