Flyers lobby NHL to host Entry Draft, All-Star Game in 2012 or 2013

by Travis Hughes on Feb 8, 2010 8:19 PM EST in News

This could be the scene at the Wachovia Center sooner rather than later if the Flyers and Comcast-Spectacor have their way. We can spell 'NHL' correctly, though. (Photo Credit/Broad Street Hockey)

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have expressed interest in hosting the NHL Entry Draft and/or the NHL All-Star Game in 2012 or 2013. That is, of course, only if Darren Daulton is wrong.

The Flyers have never hosted the Draft in their 42 year existence, and they've only hosted the All-Star Game twice, in 1976 and 1992. Typically, the host city for the Draft is announced about a year in advance, but sometimes it's in even less time than that. The 2010 event will be held in Los Angeles and there's no word yet on 2011. That goes for the All-Star Game as well, which isn't being played this year because of the Olympic break.

We're not really sure why the Flyers didn't express interest in hosting the 2011 events, but presumably it's a logistical issue involving the planning. Also, and this is completely speculation on my part, but maybe Comcast-Spectacor is thinking that they'd like to have the 'Philly Live!' development around the Wachovia Center complete for such an event.

That construction is tied to the demolition of the Spectrum, which by last check is still slated for early this year. The Cordish Company, who is overseeing that project, hopes to start construction by this summer, meaning it's safe to assume that the project would be done in time for an All-Star Game or the Draft to come to Philadelphia in 2012 or 2013.

It's not often that both events are held in the same city in the same year, with a notable exception being made to Montreal in 2009 as part of their 100th year celebration that seemed to actually last for about 20 years.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The speculation that they want to have this Philly Live thing near the Spectrum for a Draft or All Star Game is entirely plausible.

Of course, I still can’t quite wrap my head around the whole Philly Live thing to begin with. The only thing I’ve ever seen firsthand that sounds like what they’re going for with that project is Station Square, this sort of artificially created shopping/bar area in Pittsburgh. And I’m still not convinced it’s a good idea.

by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 8, 2010 10:23 PM EST reply actions

If you’ve been to The Walk in Atlantic City, the same company designed that. That’s the kind of feel it’ll have, at least.

It seems like a great idea. Instead of a few buildings in a giant parking lot, it’s going to make the Sports Complex an actual destination. It’s a shopping/entertainment complex, and it’ll also serve as a walkway between CBP and the Wach. I think it’s a great idea, and hopefully it leads to even more development in that area.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Travis Hughes on Feb 8, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

I think my problem with it is wondering whether it would survive or not…

Say it’s the night of a Phillies game, and you wanted to go somewhere in there for dinner but you’re not going to the game, are you going to battle traffic and pay $15 to park? Yes they’ll have the potential for business from people attending the game, but they may not get a draw from the population of the city and surrounding area at large. Same thing if you want to go Christmas shopping on a Saturday or Sunday and either the Sixers, Flyers, or Eagles are at having a day game, or if it’s late enough in the afternoon that they’ve started charging for parking. I just think it might be a hard sell to get people to go down there who aren’t attending a game. Let’s say for a second that my theory turns out to be true; so hypothetical situation, it’s a Sixers game day, then you only have maybe 12,000 potetential customers that day instead of 5 million? Yeah, a few days out of the week there will be nothing going on, but I’m still not sure it would succeed in the long run.

by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 9, 2010 8:55 AM EST up reply actions

I think they’re banking more on the nightlife than the shopping, and I have a feeling that they’ll be pushing SEPTA a lot once the thing is up and running. In Atlantic City at The Walk, parking is absolutely atrocious. They have two or three small lots where you can park for free with validation, and then it’s 10 or 15 (or more, depending) in a casino garage. BUT, they have the train a block away and they encourage people to use that all the time. It seems to be working and they keep adding more and more shops. It’s completely revitalized the area.

That said, I do think you have valid concerns.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Travis Hughes on Feb 9, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

I have a feeling that they’ll be pushing SEPTA a lot

It doesn’t work. Septa stops running at midnight.

Its either going to be completely ghetto and trashy like The Gallery, or else its going to be like McFaddens at CBP and only be busy on game nights.

by MarioD on Feb 9, 2010 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t get through that Darren Daulton video. I’ve read interviews with him on the subject, but to actually see and hear him talking about it is really something else entirely.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Feb 8, 2010 10:29 PM EST reply actions