[Report] NHL to announce Nashville as 2016 All-Star Game host

[-Vintage Canuck-]

It’ll be the first time the Preds have hosted the event:

Back in June, we passed along reports that the Predators had submitted a bid to host the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

Now, it looks as though that bid was successful.

Shortly after the NHL announced a press event for Bridgestone Arena on Friday, Sportsnet’s John Shannon reported that Nashville would indeed host the ’16 ASG. Though the confirmation took a lot longer than the league expected — back in June, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said he hoped to have an announcement by July 1 — it’s still a good development for Nashville, which has longed for a marquee event.

The All-Star Game hasn’t been played since 2012 — when Ottawa hosted — due to the lockout-shortened ’13 campaign and 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The 2015 edition will be held in Columbus, and Nashville landing the ’16 affair will be big, as the organization has never held an All-Star Game and only hosted one draft, back in 2003.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/15/report-nhl-to-announce-nashville-as-2016-all-star-game-host/

[Chalky]

Preds fans deserve it. Best fans in a non-traditional market by my measure.