NHL All-Star Game Is Awarded to L.A.

The Kings and Staples Center will host the 2002 NHL All-Star weekend and 52nd All-Star game, the last major hockey event before the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Staples Center had previously secured the 2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, another major pre-Olympic competition.

The NHL All-Star game was last played in Los Angeles in 1981, when the Kings’ Triple Crown line of Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer delighted their hometown fans by playing as a unit.

The Kings had made a strong pitch for the 2002 game and the festivities that surround it, which NHL officials estimate will have an economic impact of $10 million on the city.

The game will be played Feb. 2, 2002, with a team of stars from North America facing a team from the rest of the world.

“We’re very pleased at the great progress the Kings have made under Phil Anschutz’s ownership,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday.

“This is a stable, healthy franchise that is only going to continue to grow. The Staples Center has demonstrated by a number of wonderful events that it has already hosted that it is a great environment in which to showcase one of our premier events.

“It’s always exciting to come to L.A., which is the entertainment capital of the world.”

In the last year, Staples Center has hosted the Grammys, the Latin Grammys and the Democratic National Convention.

“It’s an honor for our organization, great for the building and really good for our fans,” said Tim Leiweke, president of the Kings and Staples Center.

“This will add a significant amount of interest to our franchise. . . . This means L.A. will be in the spotlight. All these events are good for L.A. This is just the beginning. We’re developing a reputation from a facility standpoint that we’re one of the premier facilities in the world.”

Leiweke also said King season-ticket holders will have opportunities to buy tickets to the All-Star weekend events. Details will be announced later.

All-Star activities will begin Jan. 29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the NHL All-Star FANtasy, an interactive hockey theme park that will be open through Feb. 2. On Feb. 1, former players will participate in the “Heroes of Hockey” game, and NHL stars will participate in the SuperSkills competition at Staples Center.

Kathy Schloessman, president of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission, said the NHL’s figure of $10 million in economic benefits “is not unrealistic,” because many fans will come to Los Angeles for the All-Star FANtasy and will book 5,000-6,000 hotel room nights.

“It’s a pretty significant thing, with the NHL FANtasy aspect. That will bring more people than an awards show,” she said.

“We’re thrilled. This is something we’ve been trying to get since before Staples opened. We have a great arena and great ownership behind the Kings, and this is a great showcase.”

Schloessman sees the All-Star game as another pearl on a remarkable string of championship sports events in the area, beginning with the bowl championship series national championship college football game at the Rose Bowl Jan. 3, 2002, followed by the figure skating championships in mid-January and the hockey game.

“We’re going to have a really busy year,” she said. “This city is kind of Johnny-come-lately when it comes to big events. The hype gets lost sometimes, and it isn’t like holding a big event in a small town, where people will talk about it for a year in advance.

“But this city really does warm up to big events. . . . We’re going to work real hard to get a lot of attention for it.”