Team wants to play host to 2012 showcase of NHL's top talent
By Allen Panzeri, The Ottawa Citizen
February 2, 2010 7:22 AM
On the 20th anniversary of their return to the NHL, the Ottawa Senators could play host to the 2012 all-star game.
The team, in conjunction with Ottawa Tourism and the Tourism Leadership Group, has indicated it will be making a formal bid to the NHL.
The event would be held Jan. 26-29, one week before the start of 2012 Winterlude.
Today, the team will look to the city for its support, with a request that will be tabled at Corporate Services Committee.
If Ottawa Councillor Steve Desroches, vice-chair of the corporate services and economic development committee, has anything to say about it, the answer will be yes.
It would ultimately involve a financial contribution from the city -- "to offset some of the costs associated with pageantry and promotion of the event" according to a letter to the city from Senators president Cyril Leeder -- but Desroches said it will be well worth the money.
The 2009 world junior hockey championship in Ottawa was a huge success, and the all-star game is a major international event that would give the city exposure around the globe.
"I think this is something the city should support," Desroches said Monday afternoon. "When you look at the benefits, they are really significant in terms of economic development. I think the city should send a strong signal to the people making the decision that the city of Ottawa is fully behind this."
The Senators have been in the mix to hold an all-star game since they played host to the NHL entry draft that signalled the end of the lockout in 2005.
The problem is that circumstances have always got in the way. There were other teams ahead of the Senators in line.
Because of various conflicts, 2012 has long been thought of as the earliest available year.
When the Atlanta couldn't hold the 2005 all-star game because of the lockout, it was moved to 2008. Dallas had already been scheduled to hold the 2007 all-star game.
Because the all-star game is not held during an Olympic year, that took 2006 and 2010 out of play. Montreal got the 2009 game as part of its 100th anniversary.
Phoenix is thought to be the front-runner for the 2011 game, but the future of that franchise has put that in doubt.
It would seem that 2012 is earmarked for the Senators. It's an unwritten promise in the league that once a team holds a draft, an all-star game is not far behind.
A letter from Leeder to the city outlined the benefits of holdng the game. The private sector has already generated $2 million for the bid proposal, Leeder said.
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The local economic impact of the event is estimated to be more than $30 million; more than 7,000 hotel rooms would be used;
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More than 3.5 million viewers would be expected to watch the action on both Saturday and Sunday, and the game would be broadcast live in more than 150 countries;
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The NHL and the Senators would also jointly invest more than $100,000 in a community legacy project. In the past, such legacy projects have included renovations to local arenas and investments in local children's hospitals.
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The new Ottawa Convention Centre, which would be the location of FanFest, and the National Capital Commission are major partners in the bid. Certain elements of Winterlude would be moved up so people who attend the all-star game could also experience the festival.
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