With the NHL All-Star Game just over seven weeks away, the Columbus Blue Jackets and community leaders came together Tuesday to announce events surrounding the upcoming experience. They also shared that the journey to get to the event was longer than some might think.
"This has been 15 years in the making," Said Linda Logan, Executive Director of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. "I came across our first bid book that we did in 2000 - we were bidding on 2003 and 2004 All-Star games so just think about the commitment from everyone in this room."
Once Columbus won their bid for an All-Star game in 2013, the event was ultimately canceled due to a work stoppage within the league. But Columbus' opportunity to host the event was not lost. The Jackets Executive Vice President of Business Operations, Larry Hoepfner, was quick to thank NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman for staying true to his pledge to Columbus.
"The commissioner made a commitment that he would bring the game back as soon as he possibly could," Hoepfner said. "We thank him for his commitment to city and the organization."
And with the 2015 event almost here, the Jackets announced a full slate of activities that will surround the All-Star game and have a little bit of something for everyone. Hoepfner said planning focused on giving everyone access to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
To serve as a hub for entertainment surrounding All-Star festivities the organization announced the Columbus Blue Jackets All-Star Winter Park that will be centered in McPherson Square across the street from Nationwide Arena.
The park will include an NHL-sized outdoor ice rink that will be open for public skates, youth hockey games and private events beginning Jan. 16 through Jan. 25.
For those who don't skate, they can slide. Hoepfner also announced a 34-foot high snow slide opening Jan. 22 that will span over 250 feet on Nationwide Boulevard.
"The slide will have various starting points for people of different ages and levels of courage," Hoepfner said.
Other elements of the Winter Park area will include heated tents for entertainment, food and beverage services, a Blue Jackets replica locker room, and retail tents with a variety of All-Star merchandise. Hoepfner said there will be fire pits throughout the area and that the Arena District will be lit up with more than 350,000 lights to turn Nationwide Boulevard into a lightscape for visitors to enjoy.
Hoepfner also announced an All-Star 5K walk / run that will take place Saturday, Jan. 24. The race route will take participants through the Arena District and start and end at Nationwide Arena. The course was designed to show off "the wonderful district that is unique to Columbus," Hoepfner said.
While All-Star weekend promises to bring entertainment opportunities to those in attendance, the opportunities for the city are significant as well. Logan says over 8,000 hotel rooms have already been reserved and an estimated 10,000 people from outside the region will be coming to the city in addition to hockey fans that may come without tickets just to enjoy the party.
"For the community, think about all the economic development stories," Logan said. "We anticipate $12MM -- $20MM of visitor spending."
For Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, who was in attendance for the events announcement, the All-Star Game is another example of Columbus becoming a destination city.
"The Winter Park will be a place where we can skate, we can slide, we can roll and we can run," Coleman said. "It will be a fun time. What I say to folks when they come to Columbus is you come to have fun and that's what we will have that weekend. Not just for those in this great arena but for all those in central Ohio."
Hoepfner said he sees hockey as the ultimate team sport and just as a team's success requires everyone on the ice to work together, preparing for the All-Star weekend has demanded dedicated collaboration from everyone involved in the planning. He is confidently optimistic about the results.
"The direction we received was to put on the best All-Star weekend that the league has ever seen," Hoepfner said. "We want to take advantage of all that (Columbus has to offer) and showcase this area to the entire world."
All-Star weekend is Jan. 24-25. Elements of the Columbus Blue Jackets Winter Park begin to open Jan. 16. FOX Sports Ohio will be hosting broadcasts on-site throughout the event. For more information on all activities visit www.BlueJackets.com/AllStar.
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