Sidney Crosby firmly believes the biggest of Mario Lemieux’s franchise records are safe. Show Still, the Penguins are hopeful Crosby gets the opportunity to match at least one of Lemieux’s signature accomplishments: winning the MVP of an NHL All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. “We’ve had discussions with the league about bringing the All-Star Game here,” said Kevin Acklin, Penguins president of business operations. Acklin would not divulge the full details of those discussions, specifically if the Penguins have officially bid for a future All-Star Game and/or if procuring one for PPG Paints Arena was a precondition of the club’s willingness to participate as the road team in the 2023 Winter Classic against the Bruins at Fenway Park in Boston. Coincidentally, Fenway Park’s tenant, MLB’s Red Sox, are, along with English football’s Liverpool, part of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which purchased the Penguins in November 2021. Acklin said FSG supports the desire for the Penguins to bring any of the NHL’s signature events to Pittsburgh, whether it be a third outdoor game, another NHL Draft or the All-Star Game. But it’s the All-Star Game that appears likeliest as the Penguins have played host to two outdoor games at Heinz Field, appeared as the visitor in three others, and welcomed the 2012 NHL Draft to what was then known as Consol Energy Center.  The Mario Lemieux statue outside PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today) Landing an All-Star Game would likely boost season-ticket sales, which have taken a slight hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Penguins’ franchise-record home sellout streak ended early this past season. Hockeydb.com charted the Penguins’ average overall attendance for 2021-22 at 17,684 — an 854 drop from the 2019-20 season, and the first time since the arena’s opening for the 2010-11 season that average attendance fell below the 18,000 threshold. For the 2016-17 season the Penguins averaged 19,763 fans, the most in franchise history. Acklin, who said he snuck into the 1990 All-Star Game at Civic Arena while attending college, also said the Penguins are re-pricing certain sections of PPG Paints Arena for games next season. He said the pricing will be based off data collected in-house and also from the secondary market. “This summer, our season ticket holder base for the first time, it led to about 70 percent of the seats being rescaled and actually reduced,” Acklin said. The Penguins hired Oak View Group to manage PPG Paints Arena. The sides are hopeful of staging events at the arena for at least 300 days/nights annually. Upgrades to PPG Paints Arena are already planned, including an events-level club that Acklin said will bring fans closer in proximity to players and a Hall of Fame, the details of which are not yet settled. The Hall of Fame, which is expected to include virtual elements in addition to having a physical presence at the arena, would include Lemieux as part of its charter class. Though still a minority owner with a half-percentage share, Lemieux remains the Penguins’ chairman. He is also widely considered the greatest player in franchise history — a six-time scoring champion, three-time winner of the Hart Trophy, and the playoffs MVP for the Penguins’ Stanley Cup clubs in 1991 and 1992. Lemieux is the Penguins’ leader in goals, assists and points. He also dominated All-Star games, winning the third of his MVPs in front of a raucous, partisan Pittsburgh crowd in 1990. The Penguins would like to provide a similar setting for Crosby, a second only to Lemieux for most team records and captain of their Cup clubs in 2009, 2016 and 2017. Crosby has three years remaining on his contract and has not said if he prefers to play after it expires. If Crosby’s next three seasons are his last, the Penguins will have only two opportunities to bring the All-Star Game back to Pittsburgh during his tenure. Sites for the 2024 and 2025 All-Star Games have not been determined, and the 2023 event will be held at the Florida Panthers’ FLA Live Arena. (Photo of Tristan Jarry at the 2022 All-Star Game: Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today) by Florida Panthers
@FlaPanthers / FloridaPanthers.com SUNRISE, Fla. - The National Hockey League® announced today that 2023 Honda NHL® All-Star Weekend will return to South Florida. The star-studded NHL event will be held at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla. on Feb. 3 and 4, 2023. The 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend will include the Honda NHL All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 4 and NHL All-Star Skills on Friday, Feb. 3, as well as entertainment and more for fans to enjoy. "We are thrilled and honored to announce the dates for the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend in South Florida," said Panthers President & CEO Matt Caldwell. "We've been excited about bringing an event of this caliber and showcasing the league's best in our backyard. For Panthers fans, playing host to an All-Star game is an opportunity to show off our vibrant hockey culture in Florida and for NHL fans, it's a chance to visit our exciting region and all it has to offer." This event marks the second time that the NHL All-Star Game has visited South Florida, having previously hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 2003. South Florida is a vibrant and diverse region with more than 16.9 million visitors to the Greater Ft. Lauderdale region annually. "We're ready to welcome the all-stars and hockey fans for a warm winter escape to Greater Fort Lauderdale for the 2023 NHL All-Star Game," said Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. "From the action on the ice to sunny February days at the beach, we know hockey fans are in for a great weekend." Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau and Interim Head Coach Andrew Brunette will represent the club this weekend at the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Nev. Visit FloridaPanthers.com and on social media @FlaPanthers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news, behind the scenes and more. Florida Panthers Territory Members will have priority access to all 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend events. Fans can renew their membership now or join Panthers Territory by visiting FloridaPanthers.com/TerritoryMemberships or by calling 954-835-PUCK (7825) for information. Fans interested in learning more about when tickets become available can indicate their interest by signing up HERE. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and the NHL All-Star Logo, NHL All-Star Skills name and logo and NHL Fan Fair name and logo are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2022. All Rights Reserved. View More Where is the NHL AllThe league announced today that the 2024 AHL All-Star Game would be coming to yet-to-be-opened Tech CU Arena on Feb. 4 and 5, 2024. “It's the largest event that the American Hockey League puts on during the year,” San Jose Barracuda director of business operations Eric Grundfast said.
Who is hosting the 2024 MLB All Star Game?The Rangers play at Globe Life Field, the team's home since 2020, located in Arlington, Texas. The event marks the second time the Rangers will host the All-Star Game. The team's first hosting duties occurred in 1995. The game will be played on July 16 and will be the 94th Midsummer Classic.
Who is playing in the 2023 Winter Classic?NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins today unveiled the team logos for the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic. The Bruins and Penguins will face off in the outdoor game at Fenway Park in Boston on Monday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. ET (TNT, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports).
Who will host the 2023 NHL All Star game?SUNRISE, Fla. -- In their first meeting since completing one of the biggest NHL trades in recent memory, the Florida Panthers will host the Calgary Flames at FLA Live Arena on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
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