NHL All-Star game rotation?

Question

This has been a belief of mine for years and I would like to see what people have to say about it. The NHL should rotate the yearly All-Star game and event throughout all of the cities in the NHL. Set it up on a rotation based on city name, in alphabetic order. If a city comes in with a team and it's letter is already passed, they can wait their turn just like every other city. If a city comes up and the game happens to line up with that city (would alphabeticly line up), congrats to that team and city for getting their chance early in the history of the club. What do y'all think?

Answer 1

If they would do a rotation of all star games, 30 teams over 30 years, I would base the rotation on how long the team or franchise has been around. The original 6 would have the first 6 all star games and every year after that would go in order of when the franchise was erected.

It may be fan-friendly and a safe-bet to have all-star festivities in new arenas and/or where new teams have been established, but the historical value of what all-star games reflect is blurred in an exhibition matchup in a non-historical hockey town with sleek future-like jersies.

If the rotation is based on establishment dates then the history of the NHL is the basis of the events rather than just a mid-season gathering. You should embrace the history of the sport rather than abandoning it and alienating the fans. From a marketing standpoint it would be beneficial to any sport to embrace their history. And the newest teams would have the extra 20 years to make history of their own and be a real hockeytown.

Answer 2

The purpose of the all star game is to create a platform to celebrate and promote the game. That's why the non-traditional markets and cities with new arenas have gotten the nod since the modern expansion era of the 90's.

I don't think the venue for the game has been as much of an issue as the game's format and the event's content. If you look at the last 20 all star games, I think you'll find fair representation from city to city.

Anaheim seems to be the one clear missing host and they were likely handicapped by the proximity of the Kings and the newer Staples center in 2002. Regardless, you would think that the combination of building, age of team and weather would help make Anaheim's case.

Last twenty all star venues. The Colorado/Quebec franchise is the only one to have hosted the game twice in this period.

2007, Dallas. New building
2004, Minnesota. New building, new team
2003, Florida.
2002, Los Angeles. New building
2001, Colorado. New building, 5 year old team
2000, Toronto. New building.
1999, Tampa Bay. New building
1998, Vancouver. New building
1997, San Jose. New building, team
1996, Boston. New building
1994, NY Rangers.
1993, Montreal.
1992, Philadelphia.
1991, Chicago.
1990, Pittsburgh.
1989, Edmonton.
1988, St. Louis.
1987, Quebec (Rendez Vous).
1986, Hartford.
1985, New Jersey. New team

Answer 3

There used to be a rotation of Eastern conference team, Western conference team, but that has kind of disappeared and become less of a pattern:

2000-Toronto (East)
2001-Colorado (West)
2002-Los Angeles (West)
2003-Florida (East)
2004-Minnesota (West)
2005-NO GAME (lockout)
2006-NO GAME (Olympics)
2007-Dallas (West)
2008-Atlanta (East)
2009-Montreal (East)
2010-NO GAME (Olympics)

I miss the rotation, and I hate to think that there isn't gonna be a game every 4 years because of the Olympics (part of the players/owners agreement). But Montreal is getting it in 2009 to mark the 100 year team anniversary, and I think that's great for hockey. Maybe we don't need a pattern at all, just good reasons to have them in each city. Their should be one in Pittsburgh soon to help out the team financially. One in another "Original Six" city too, because it's good for the sport. As long as we have one, I'm happy.

Answer 4

Every team should get the game there 30 teams so every 30 years you will get the all star game