10 Venues That Should Host The NHL All-Star Game

The 2019 NHL All-Star Game is being held in San Jose. Here’s a look at 10 other venues we’d love to see host an All-Star Game. 

San Jose will be hosting its second All-Star Game this weekend having hosted the event in 1997. Next year, St. Louis will be the site of the All-Star Game for the third time it’s a good time to look at some of the venues the NHL could look to host the event.

With the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators getting new arenas and the NHL more than likely granting Vegas and Seattle future All-Star Games here is a list of ten arenas the NHL should look into hosting the mid-season event.

10. Honda Center (Anaheim, CA)

Opened:1993

Capacity: 17,174 (Hockey)

ASGsHosted: 0

Special Features: The Honda Center lies three miles away from Disneyland.

The Honda Center, which is home to the Anaheim Ducks, has hosted the 2003 and 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, but has never hosted the NHL All-Star Game. The Los Angeles Metro Area itself has hosted 3 All-Star Games (1981, 2002, and 2017), which have drawn extremely well between the Forum and the Staples Center.

Since the Los Angeles Metro Area last hosted an All-Star Game in 2017, it’s safe to assume the Honda Center could be towards the bottom of the list of future sites. With Disneyland close by, it would be a fun family event as well. And just imagine the thought of having Disney mascots take on the NHL mascots in an exhibition hockey game!

8. Madison Square Garden (New York City, NY)

Opened: 1968

Capacity: 18,006 (Hockey)

ASG Hosted: 1973, 1994

Special Features: Aside from being the most famous arena in the world, MSG contains the Chase Bridges, which run parallel to the length of the event floor on the 10thfloor of the arena. There are also two 600-foot video screens.

Madison Square Garden, enough said. It’s the home to the New York Rangers has previously hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1973 and 1994. Having hosted NHL Finals (1972 & 1994), NBA Finals (1972 & 1994), NBA All-Star Game (1998 and 2015), WNBA All-Star Games (1999, 2003, and 2006), UFC 205 and a plethora of historical events, it’s been 25 seasons since The Garden has hosted the All-Star Game.

Being as famous as it is, one would be led to believe that the exhibition game should be returning to MSG sooner than later. However, the league might not want to have two All-Star Games in New York in a short period of time and Belmont will inevitably get one fairly soon after opening.

7. Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA)

Opened: 1996

Capacity: 19,306 (Hockey)

ASGs Hosted: 0

Special Features: Shares a parking lot with Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

While Philadelphia has hosted 2 NHL All-Star Games in 1976 and 1992, Wells Fargo Center has yet to host the exhibition itself. Having hosted Stanley Cup Final Games (1997 & 2010), NBA Final Games (2001), NBA All-Star Game (2002), and the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, it only seems fitting to add the NHL All-Star Game to the list.

The Philadelphia Flyers and the Philadelphia area have a ravaging hockey following and hosting the event would surely draw well as it pertains to attendance.

6. Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)

Opened: 1997

Capacity:18,506 (Hockey)

ASGs Hosted: 0

Special Features: Based in the heart of Chinatown, the location of the arena offers countless restaurant and shopping experiences. Capital One Arena just underwent $40 million in renovations including updated concourses, an upgraded Team Store by Fanatics, and a permanent 3D On-ice Projection System. There are various museums within walking distance of the arena.

The Washington Capitals franchise last hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1982 when the team was based in Landover, MD. Since moving into their current home in 1997 the Capital One Arena has hosted the Stanley Cup Final in 1998 and 2018, and the NBA All-Star Game in 2001.

Having just won the Stanley Cup and the rise in popularity of hockey in the region along with one of the biggest names in the NHL in Alex Ovechkin, it’s hard to see why the NHL hasn’t already hosted the mid-season game in the nation’s capital.

5. Gila River Arena (Glendale, AZ)

Opened: 2003

Capacity: 17,125 (Hockey) 19,000 (Max)

ASGs Hosted: 0

Special Features: Fireball Terrace is an outdoor dining area where guests can get a beautiful view of the White Tank Mountains while enjoying live music and entertainment located at the top of the “Coyotes Den” on the Northwest side of the arena.

The NHL had initially planned to have the Arizona Coyotes host the 2006 NHL All-Star Game before the 2003-04 lockout. The NHL decided not to hold All-Star Games during years of the Winter Olympics and Arizona eventually fell further down the waiting list.

With rampant relocation rumors especially with the new Seattle franchise arriving in 2021-22, time could be running out for Arizona to host the NHL All-Star Game.

4. Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)

Opened: 2007

Capacity: 16,514 (Hockey)

ASGs Hosted: 0

Special Features: The Prudential Center boasts a 4,800 square foot display on the entrance of the Arena which is one of the largest in the world. Inside the arena, fans are presented with one of the largest indoor arena scoreboards, which hangs above the rink.

The New Jersey Devils last hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1984 at what is now known as the Izod Center. While playing at one of the newer arenas in the league the Prudential Center has played host to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final as well as the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

New Jersey Devils fans are notorious for their passion and support of their team and New Jersey is a more than ideal location for the All-Star Game. Not to mention being in the New York Metro area would bolster attendance and revenue. Nothing says hockey like the New York/New Jersey region in the winter time.

3. PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, PA)

Opened: 2010

Capacity: 18,387 (Hockey)

ASGs Hosted: 0

Special Features: The PPG Paints Arena offers the most spacious seats in the NHL at up to 24 inches wide. The arena also boasts one of the best scoreboards in the NHL and two 360-degree LED rings around the seating bowl.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the NHL’s perennial franchises with names like Jagr, Lemieux, Gonchar, Letang, Malkin, and Crosby echoing throughout their storied history. Pittsburgh has hosted the NHL All-Star Game only once before in 1990 and one would think that being one of the more popular franchise would warrant another opportunity.

PPG Paints Arena has hosted two Stanley Cup Finals in 2016 and 2017 and should easily be a prime candidate to host an upcoming All-Star Game.

2. Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, MI)

Opened: 2017

Capacity: 19,515 (Hockey)

ASGs Hosted: 0

Special Features: The highlight of Little Caesars Arena when attending a game is the 5,100 square foot scoreboard in the center of the arena. Another fascinating feature is the glass roof concourse that connects the team offices as well as a 37,300 square foot practice rink inside the arena.

The Detroit Red Wings have hosted the NHL All-Star Game five times having last hosting it in 1980. Commissioner Gary Bettman has gone on record stating that the arena would be granted the NHL All-Star Game once the “District Detroit” project around the arena is completed so Detroit should be first in line as a future host city.

1. Bell MTS Centre (Winnipeg, MB)

Opened: 2004

Capacity: 15,321 (Hockey)

ASGs Hosted: 0

Special Features: The Bell MTS Place features two war memorials and a statue paying homage to Timothy Eaton, founder of Eaton’s Department Store which once stood where the arena is today.

The Winnipeg Jets returned to the NHL in 2011 after the Thrashers relocated from Atlanta. The franchise had previously hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 2008 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta. While the Bell MTS Place is the smallest arena in the NHL in terms of capacity the All-Star Game would easily draw a sellout crowd in Winnipeg, Manitoba.