Blue Jackets to host 2013 All Star Weekend

[Teagz]

ESPN

OTTAWA -- The Columbus Blue Jackets will host the 2013 NHL All-Star Game.

Commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement Saturday at the Board of Governors meetings.

The Blue Jackets, who play at Nationwide Arena, had applied for hosting rights in 2013, 2014 or 2015. Next year's All-Star Weekend will be Jan. 26-27 and will mark the third straight year a city has hosted the game for the first time.

Raleigh, N.C., home of the Carolina Hurricanes, hosted the game last year, and this year's game is Sunday in Ottawa.

"We're looking forward to bringing our All-Star celebration to Columbus," Bettman said. "The Blue Jackets did a great job of hosting the NHL draft in 2007, and I have no doubt they will raise the bar even higher when they welcome our All-Star celebration next January."

It was welcome news for a team that is struggling this season. The Blue Jackets are 13-30-6 with a league-low 32 points. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning (165) have allowed more goals this season than Columbus (163).

"The Blue Jackets are honored to host the 2013 All-Star celebration in Columbus as we believe our city offers a truly unique setting for this special event," Blue Jackets majority owner John P. McConnell said. "As much as it is a showcase for the NHL's best players, it is also a celebration of hockey fans and having it in Columbus is a testament to the fantastic support of our fans and the strength of Central Ohio as a hockey market."

 

[RipCity32]

Does Ohio even have a strong hockey fanbase?

 

[Teagz]

They're 26th in the league in attendance. I don't know if it's because they're bad or what but it doesn't seem like a very good decision to bring the ASG there. Although, it could be to attract more interest to the game in that area.

 

[RipCity32]

Yeah, seems to me like an odd spot to put the game lol.

 

[Teagz]

It seems to be a trend that the NHL has to put the game in non-classic hockey locations like Dallas, Atlanta, and Carolina. IMO they would be better off keeping the games in good hockey cities like Detroit, Toronto, Boston etc.

 

[RipCity32]

Yeah, guess that actually makes more sense. Didn't think of it that way.

 

[Mr.Baller]

This is stupid ... I really don't understand why Columbus ? They suck , there fans don't even show up to the games ... it's pointless !