Columbus Hosts 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend

January 22, 2015

COLUMBUS (January 22, 2015) – The National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, in partnership with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, will host the 2015 NHL All-Star Celebration January 22-25. Honda will present the 60th NHL All-Star Game and NHL All-Star Skills Competition® at Nationwide Arena and there will be additional hockey events and activities throughout the city over the weekend.
This moment for Columbus comes close to eight years after the city hosted the NHL Entry Draft in 2007 and nearly 10 years after hosting the NCAA Hockey Frozen Four in 2005 at the Schottenstein Center at the Ohio State University. Columbus will be the third straight city to host the NHL All-Star Game for the first time after Ottawa hosted the event in 2012 and Raleigh in 2011.
The NHL’s All-Star Weekend will generate an estimated $12 million in visitor spending* and represent an estimated 8,000 hotel room nights with 140,000 hockey fans and 10,000 out-of-town visitors experiencing Columbus. At a time where Columbus grows in recognition as a city on the rise and a premier national sports destination, the NHL All-Star Celebration will represent more than $50 million dollars in national and international media value. North American viewership for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa was nearly 7.5 million average gross viewers on NBC Sports Network and the Canadian Broadcast Corporation with the event also broadcast to over 150 countries around the world. In addition, approximately 400 members of the media will be covering the weekend.
*NOTE: This visitor spending figure does NOT include induced spending or use a multiplier, but reflects direct visitor spending only.
“Columbus has one of the top hockey arenas and fan experiences in sports,” said Linda Logan, Greater Columbus Sports Commission executive director. “With the Arena District as one of the best urban entertainment complexes in the country, we look forward to converging all of our strengths to make it the best NHL All-Star Weekend the League has ever hosted.”
The NHL’s official activities of All-Star Weekend will begin on Friday at the Greater Columbus Convention Center with NHL Fan Fair™ opening at 3:00 p.m. and the 2015 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft™ presented by DraftKings taking place at 8:00 p.m. On Saturday, All-Star Player Red Carpet Arrivals will start at 4:00 p.m. at Nationwide Arena and the OhioHealth Ice Haus with the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition™ taking place at 7:00 p.m. Sunday will feature the 2015 Honda NHL® All-Star Game at 5:00 p.m.
As an enhancement to official events surrounding the 2015 NHL All-Star Celebration, the Columbus Blue Jackets will host All-Star Winter Park presented by Worthington Industries at McFerson Commons across the street from Nationwide Arena. Winter Park will feature an outdoor ice rink, massive three-lane snow slide down Nationwide Blvd. and serve as the hub for outdoor entertainment for people of all ages before and during All-Star Weekend.
“Our goal has been to make the 2015 NHL All-Star Celebration the best in league history and we’re excited about adding a component that is not only unique to the event, but will also serve as a celebration of the season, our community and offer something fun for everyone,” said Blue Jackets Executive Vice President of Business Operations Larry Hoepfner. “Our public officials, community and business leaders have all embraced this initiative and none of this would be possible without their enthusiastic support.”
Developed in conjunction with Columbus-based Marketing Activations Group, the Columbus Blue Jackets All-Star Winter Park will be anchored by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Community Rink, an NHL-sized outdoor rink that will feature public skating, youth hockey, private events and various other programming.
The Snow Slide presented by Huntington will stand 34-feet tall at its peak and span 85-feet with an additional 175-feet running along Nationwide Blvd. The two-lane slide, which will be positioned along the westbound lanes of Nationwide Blvd. between Marconi Blvd. and West St., will feature three separate access points of varying heights to allow people of all ages to participate.
To complement the ice attractions within the Winter Park, the Dispatch Media Group Hockey House will feature live music and food and beverage service including MillerCoors products, while the Kids Zone will be home to a host of family-friendly activities including the Blue Jackets Replica Locker Room presented by AEP. Near the entrance to Winter Park, visitors will notice outdoor fire pits where they can toast s’mores or just gather to enjoy the atmosphere.
Additional Quotes
Michael B. Coleman | Mayor – City of Columbus
Columbus is thrilled to be host to the 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend. This will be an exciting weekend for sports fans, visitors, and Columbus residents as we showcase our city’s vibrancy and diversity through our top-notch facilities and entertainment options. We look forward to pulling off the best All-Star weekend to date.
Marilyn Brown | President, Board of Commissioners – Franklin County
“I am so excited for NHL All-Star Weekend and want to welcome the thousands of visitors that will be coming to Columbus and Franklin County to my neighborhood, the Short North and Arena District. We have been planning and preparing for your arrival for some time and hope you are able to enjoy some of our many amenities while you’re here, and that you make plans to come back again soon. We have some much to be proud of here and we are very excited to share it with all of you.”
Andy Ginther | President – Columbus City Council
“The NHL All-Star Weekend is a community wide celebration that will position the eyes of the world on Columbus. This is another opportunity to showcase all the things that make this city a special place to live and work.”
Brian Ross | President & CEO – Experience Columbus
“It’s an honor to welcome the National Hockey League, its athletes, fans and media to Columbus for this marquee event,” said Brian Ross, Experience Columbus president and CEO. “We’re excited to show off our vibrant, thriving city and give visitors the opportunity to experience our walkable downtown and local food scene, nightlife and attractions.”
Alex Fischer | President & CEO – The Columbus Partnership
“The NHL All-Star Weekend shines yet another spotlight on the incredible momentum we have in Columbus. Our city is fast becoming one of the nation’s leading sports destinations and our business community is proud to be a part of this event.”
Brian Ellis | President – Nationwide Realty Investors & Board Chair, Greater Columbus Sports Commission
“We are thrilled to host the NHL All-Star Weekend in Columbus. We look forward to welcoming over 140,000 hockey fans to the Arena District and Nationwide Arena, and to making our great city known to the millions of fans watching around the world.”
Xen Riggs | Columbus Arena Management (CAM) Chief Operating Officer & Ohio State University Vice-President
In Facility Management, hosting the NHL All-Star game is a rare opportunity. We are honored to present such a major and prestigious event in Columbus at Nationwide Arena.”
About Columbus
Columbus is a city unlike any other. Vibrant and alive, the Columbus Region is one of the fastest growing areas in the Midwest, home to one of the country’s largest universities, the nation’s foremost research organization, 15 Fortune 1000 companies, the No. 1 zoo, No. 1 science center and even the No. 1 ice cream. Ohio’s capital and the 15th largest city in the U.S. is known for its impressive and diverse arts, culinary and shopping scenes, urban nightlife, sporting events and family-friendly attractions. Learn more about Columbus and find visitor information at www.ExperienceColumbus.com.
Nationwide Arena
One of the most beautiful and unique sports and entertainment venues in the world, Nationwide Arena opened its doors in September 2000. The $150 million facility raises the bar of excellence for sports and entertainment facilities and includes 16 Founders Suites, 36 Executive Suites, 26 loge boxes, 39 Club Terrace Tables and six Party Suites, along with two 80-foot party suite towers, a 70-foot glass atrium. It is the centerpiece of the Arena District, one of the premier entertainment districts in the country, offering beautiful hotels, exceptional dining and live entertainment. It serves as a benchmark for cities seeking to emulate what has been created in Columbus.
The Arena District
The Arena District is a $1 billion, 100-acre mixed-use development located in downtown Columbus, developed by Nationwide Realty Investors, the real estate development affiliate of Nationwide. The Arena District includes more than 1.5 million square feet of commercial office space, world-class entertainment venues, restaurants and residential uses. For more information about the Arena District visit www.arenadistrict.com.
Greater Columbus Sports Commission
The Sports Commission is a catalyst, driving the collaborative efforts of the Central Ohio region, in attracting and hosting a wide variety of sporting events. We have established the Columbus region as a premier sports destination, hosting more than 270 new sporting events that have generated close to $345 million in visitor spending, while retaining annual events that have generated an additional $225 million to benefit our local economy. For more information, visit columbussports.org.
Media Contacts:
Bruce Wimbish | Greater Columbus Sports Commission | 614-632-7600 | [email protected]
Karen Davis | Columbus Blue Jackets | 614-246-4310 | [email protected]
Tina Guegold | Arena District | 614-496-2483 | [email protected]
Gary O’Brien | Nationwide Arena | 614-247-0095 | [email protected]
Megumi Robinson | Experience Columbus | 614-222-6104 | [email protected]