NHL teams
Scott Burnside, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Nashville Predators to host '16 ASG

NHL, Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators will host the 2016 All-Star Game, multiple sources have told ESPN.com.

The formal announcement will be made Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The team has never hosted the game, which is a major event for the league and its fans and an economic boon to the host city. Traditionally, there are events both on and off the ice for fans, with the game held on a Sunday in late January, usually during the off week between the NFL's conference championships and the Super Bowl.

Predators captain and three-time All Star Shea Weber said the game is a lot of fun. Weber said it will be very exciting for Nashville and a nice reward for the Predators' fans.

"They are the best fans in the league," Weber said after practice Wednesday. "For it to come to a city here where they are going to enjoy it, the festivities are great. The cities I have been to in the past have done a great job of putting in other things for families and people to do. There's so much for people to do here, it's a great venue and I think people are going to enjoy it."

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will be in attendance at Friday's announcement to discuss the impact of the event on the local economy.

This year's All-Star Game festivities will Jan. 24-25 in Columbus, Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch recently reported the game and attendant events will provide a $12 million bump to the local economy.

In recent years, the teams for the All-Star Game have been divided up via a draft, with veteran stars picking their respective teams. That has proved to be a hit with fans.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

^ Back to Top ^