CNY to host AHL all-star game for a second year in 2016

SYRACUSE — The American Hockey League (AHL) will hold its all-star game in Central New York for a second consecutive season in 2016.

AHL CEO David Andrews on May 18 announced that the minor league’s board of governors had “unanimously” approved the Syracuse Crunch to host the next all-star game, according to a news release posted on the Crunch website.

Andrews repeated the announcement for a local audience at a news conference at the Onondaga County War Memorial on May 27.

The Utica Comets hosted this past season’s all-star game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Jan. 26.

The league, which features a number of players that go on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), contends the War Memorial will provide a “perfect backdrop” to “celebrate our past while showcasing the brightest young stars in hockey,” according to the May 18 news release.

CNYBJ asked Andrews if it’s unusual to hold the game in the same region in back-to-back years.  

“I think we will take a little criticism from fans around the league for that. We haven’t been out west in a long time,” Andrews acknowledged, as he spoke with reporters following the May 27 local announcement. 

Syracuse served as a charter member city in the AHL in 1936. So the league “saw the fit” between a league charter-member city and the 80th anniversary, says Andrews.   [Syracuse Crunch owner] Howard [Dolgon] and his staff “very clearly” have the ability to deliver a “first-class, special event.” 

“For us, it’s a no-brainer to put those two things together to celebrate our 80th anniversary,” says Andrews. 

The Crunch will enter their 22nd season as members of the AHL in 2015-16, but the city’s history in the league traces back to the Syracuse Stars, which won the very first Calder Cup championship in 1936-37, according to the news release.

“In my mind, we will definitely have a heritage feel to the event … we want to make certain that we really celebrate our 80th in a great way,” Andrews said in speaking with reporters after the presentation.

In operation since 1936, the AHL serves as the “top” development league for all 30 teams in the NHL. 

CNYBJ also asked Andrews about the economic impact the AHL all-star game can have on a region.

He didn’t provide a specific dollar figure but estimates the event will attract about 1,000 out-of-town fans from places such as Utica, Albany, Rochester, Hershey, and the Wilkes Barre–Scranton area. 

“There’s going to be a lot of demand for tickets for folks coming in from those areas,” says Andrews.

Minor-league hockey fans have purchased about one-third of the seats at the War Memorial for the all-star game, Megan Cahill, public & media-relations manager for the Syracuse Crunch, said in response to an email inquiry from CNYBJ.

Requesting Syracuse

When Andrews approached Dolgon about hosting the all-star game, the Crunch owner requested time to think about it, considering his staff had just organized the Frozen Dome Classic in the Carrier Dome in November, something Dolgon called an “undertaking.”

“So, once the staff embraced [it] and [Onondaga County] embraced it, it became easier to say … it makes sense for us to move ahead for all the right reasons,” says Dolgon. 

The challenge for the Syracuse Crunch staff members is how they can make this all-star game presentation “an event,” says Dolgon.

The Crunch owner is aiming for an atmosphere similar to what a National Football League city does when it hosts the Super Bowl.

“I want that same feel of when the All-Star Game comes here,” says Dolgon. 

The all-star game also provides additional ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities for the Syracuse Crunch, he adds.

 “It extends our brand on a national level, which we always think about doing,” says Dolgon.  

SYRACUSE — The American Hockey League (AHL) will hold its all-star game in Central New York for a second consecutive season in 2016.

AHL CEO David Andrews on May 18 announced that the minor league’s board of governors had “unanimously” approved the Syracuse Crunch to host the next all-star game, according to a news release posted on the Crunch website.

Andrews repeated the announcement for a local audience at a news conference at the Onondaga County War Memorial on May 27.

The Utica Comets hosted this past season’s all-star game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Jan. 26.

The league, which features a number of players that go on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), contends the War Memorial will provide a “perfect backdrop” to “celebrate our past while showcasing the brightest young stars in hockey,” according to the May 18 news release.

CNYBJ asked Andrews if it’s unusual to hold the game in the same region in back-to-back years.  

“I think we will take a little criticism from fans around the league for that. We haven’t been out west in a long time,” Andrews acknowledged, as he spoke with reporters following the May 27 local announcement. 

Syracuse served as a charter member city in the AHL in 1936. So the league “saw the fit” between a league charter-member city and the 80th anniversary, says Andrews.   [Syracuse Crunch owner] Howard [Dolgon] and his staff “very clearly” have the ability to deliver a “first-class, special event.” 

“For us, it’s a no-brainer to put those two things together to celebrate our 80th anniversary,” says Andrews. 

The Crunch will enter their 22nd season as members of the AHL in 2015-16, but the city’s history in the league traces back to the Syracuse Stars, which won the very first Calder Cup championship in 1936-37, according to the news release.

“In my mind, we will definitely have a heritage feel to the event … we want to make certain that we really celebrate our 80th in a great way,” Andrews said in speaking with reporters after the presentation.

In operation since 1936, the AHL serves as the “top” development league for all 30 teams in the NHL. 

CNYBJ also asked Andrews about the economic impact the AHL all-star game can have on a region.

He didn’t provide a specific dollar figure but estimates the event will attract about 1,000 out-of-town fans from places such as Utica, Albany, Rochester, Hershey, and the Wilkes Barre–Scranton area. 

“There’s going to be a lot of demand for tickets for folks coming in from those areas,” says Andrews.

Minor-league hockey fans have purchased about one-third of the seats at the War Memorial for the all-star game, Megan Cahill, public & media-relations manager for the Syracuse Crunch, said in response to an email inquiry from CNYBJ.

Requesting Syracuse

When Andrews approached Dolgon about hosting the all-star game, the Crunch owner requested time to think about it, considering his staff had just organized the Frozen Dome Classic in the Carrier Dome in November, something Dolgon called an “undertaking.”

“So, once the staff embraced [it] and [Onondaga County] embraced it, it became easier to say … it makes sense for us to move ahead for all the right reasons,” says Dolgon. 

The challenge for the Syracuse Crunch staff members is how they can make this all-star game presentation “an event,” says Dolgon.

The Crunch owner is aiming for an atmosphere similar to what a National Football League city does when it hosts the Super Bowl.

“I want that same feel of when the All-Star Game comes here,” says Dolgon. 

The all-star game also provides additional ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities for the Syracuse Crunch, he adds.

 “It extends our brand on a national level, which we always think about doing,” says Dolgon.