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

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.