June. 16, 2006

Raleigh Working Toward NHL All-Star Bid

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The RBC Center has been the center of the hockey world the last couple of weeks for the Stanley Cup run. Now, the arena and the city are going after the National Hockey League's second biggest event -- an All-Star Game.

The RBC Center and the Hurricanes are riding the momentum of a second Stanley Cup run in four years. The arena and the city already hosted an NHL Draft back in 2004.

Landing an NHL All-Star Game could generate more than $12 million in revenue. But the Triangle still has some work to do in order to achieve that goal.

"There are some issues still about hotels and a convention center, but we do owe an All-Star Game," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "I can't tell you when but one will come."

"You really need to have not only a lot of hotels for people who are coming, not just from this country, but really, internationally," said Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker.

Meeker said the city is positioning itself to make a run at an NHL All-Star Game by 2009. By then, he said, the new convention center should be complete, and four luxury hotels should be online, including the new Marriott downtown and a Westin Hotel at the new Soleil Center near Crabtree Valley Mall.