TAMPA, Fla. — The NHL All-Star Game is being hosted by Tampa Bay for the first time since Wayne Gretzky made his last appearance in the showcase and many still questioned whether the league could prosper in a non-traditional market better known for sunshine and beaches than winning hockey.
Nearly two decades later, the answer is a resounding yes.
Not only has the league flourished in Tampa and other Sun Belt locations where the game continues to grow, the hometown Lightning have evolved into what generally is regarded as a model franchise.
Now a community that’s hosted four Super Bowls, the World Series, two Stanley Cup Finals and last year’s college football national championship game welcomes the spotlight for its first NHL All-Star Game since 1999.