Detroit Red Wings Likely To Host NHL All-Star Game in Near Future
By Zac Snyder
Gary Bettman appeared on Detroit radio today acknowledging the Detroit Red Wings as likely hosts for a future NHL All-Star Game at Little Caesars Arena.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman joined Mike Stone and Kyle Bogie on 97.1 The Ticket’s morning show today, mainly to share his thoughts on Mike Ilitch’s tenure as owner of the Detroit Red Wings. You can listen to the segment on the show’s webpage.
At about the seven minute mark of the segment, the focus shifted to the new Little Caesars Arena with Stoney specifically asking about a future NHL All-Star Game coming to Detroit. Bettman didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the strong possibility of that happening, even going so far as to say some discussions have already taken place.
"We’re gonna wait until everything is up and running and the construction around the area is complete, but I definitely see league events in the future and we’ve had preliminary discussions. We haven’t nailed down a date, but we want to make sure that everything, that the vision around the building and all the construction, that has to be done and completed so that everybody we bring to Detroit for the celebration will see the full experience and the full vision that Mike and Marian have had for Detroit."
That leaves things pretty open-ended but it shouldn’t come as a surprise when something gets eventually announced. While the question was specific to the All-Star game, Bettman answers with the more vague “league events” which could include a future NHL Draft. The 2017 NHL Draft will take place in June at the United Center in Chicago but future sites have not been announced.
No future All-Star Game sites have been announced, even for next season, but there may not be one if NHL players are involved in the upcoming Winter Olympics. The NHL last played an All-Star Game during an Olympic year in 2002.
Next: Detroit Red Wings 2000-09 All-Decade Team
An NHL All-Star game at Little Caesars Arena would be the sixth NHL All-Star Game to be hosted by the Red Wings, but only the second since 1955. Joe Louis Arena was the site of 1980 game.