RALEIGH — Gary Bettman made the promise nine years ago. Today, the NHL commissioner finally delivered.
Bettman announced today that the Carolina Hurricanes and city of Raleigh would be hosting the 2011 NHL All-Star game at the RBC Center. The game will be played Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.
Bettman said 14 teams and cities made bids for All-Star games in 2011, 2012 or 2013, or the NHL Draft in one of those three years. It is believed at least 10 teams bid for the 2011 All-Star Game, which was to be hosted by the Phoenix Coyotes but was put up to bid again because of the financial uncertainty surrounding the franchise.
"To the other teams that made bids I say, 'You'll time will come,'" Bettman said.
In 2001, Bettman promised the Canes the game if the team could raise its season-ticket base to 12,000. The team met that challenge, but Bettman then said the community was found lacking in terms of upscale hotels and convention space.
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held at the RBC Center, but nailing down an All-Star Games proved to be elusive until this year.
The Hurricanes had held off on sending out season-ticket renewal letters until learning about the 2011 game. Full season-ticket holders will have top priority on All-Star game tickets.
"It's important to build up the season-tickt base," owner Peter Karmanos Jr. said. "This will help us do it."
Scott Dupree of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau said the economic impact for the area could be $10 million to $20 million in visitor spending.
"This is as big as it gets," Dupree said.
Ticket and broadcast information will be released at a later date.
The NHL SuperSkills competition will be held Saturday, Jan. 29.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Amen
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 15:45 — esteban1949Amen AD...Amen !!
The Canes are Good,My Grandkids are Better, and Life is Great !!
Go Canes !!
Building Up the Season Ticket Base
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 14:36 — abramsdougThe Hurricanes organization has managed to develop an impressive amount of talent at Carolina and at Albany (soon to be Charlotte). With all the young talent, it is essential that the season ticket base reach the point where the organization can spend up to the salary cap. It would be unthinkable to lose young talent such Sutter, Boychuk, Tlusty, McBain, Carson, Bowman, Dalpe, Dwyer, Samson, Osala, and Terry, among others because the Hurricanes organization lacked the financial recources to keep them.
These players will help ensure the Hurricanes make the playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup for years to come. The Hurricanes really need 5,000 more season ticket holders to move from being a budget team to being a Cap team. The difference is dramatic in terms of the product that can consistently be put on the ice. Hopefully, the additional exposure of the NHL All-Star Game will be another impetus toward building the season ticket base.