2011 NHL All Star Weekend (1/29/11)

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After a quickie nap after getting home from 'the Firm' this morning, I sped up to Raleigh to check out the NHL All-Star Weekend Hoopla . .. Originally promised back in 2001 in the Carolina Hurricanes early days in Raleigh, NC's Capital City finally got a chance to host the NHL's big weekend of stars & legends as they hit the city to celebrate hockey's past & present. I went to check out the city's NHL ALL OUT STREET FESTIVAL (Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh) and FAN FAIR (Convention Center) . .

NHL All-Out Fan Festival: Just being real on this one folks, but I was highly disappointed in what Raleigh did for their Fan Festival, which was held on Fayvetteville Street !!!!! It felt more like I was attending the Grifton EAT MO SHAD Festival or the Mint Hill May Day Festival vs. a street festival celbrating the NHL. There was absolutely nothing to celebrate the history of the sport, nor anyting to highlight what NC produces (No vendor booths for LANCE CRACKERS, SLIM JIMS, RJR Tobacco Products, etc. ? ? ? ?) or anything from the Canes sponsors ? It seems like whoever set this thing up just dusted off the playbook for what the city normally does for street festivals and just throw a couple of winter related stuff in there (I did see the Bobsledding area and WRAL SNOW ZONE). Raleigh really should've taken notes on what Charlotte does for their SPEED STREET Festivals and use that as a template. There should've been folks passing out free stuff up the yazoo and hockey realated displays up and down the street (no picture on a ZAMBONI? Meet and greet with NHL/Minor League Mascots .. . Hello!!!!!!!)


NHL Fan Fair: The Fan Fair at the new Convention Center was really good; Lots of exhibits & displays were there. All-Star Gift Shop was pakced with shoppers (I grabbed a Game Program on the way out) and saw quite a few ex Canes as I made my way around the building (Glen Wesley, Rod Brind'Amour, Gary Roberts) during the afternoon. Saw the GUARDIANS OF THE NHL display (Stan Lee) which was really cool as well . . . . .

Overall Grade: B- . . A solid NHL Fan Fair made up hugely for a very disappointing Street Festival in my book . . . . Hopefully Raleigh will get a chance to do it again and do a better job in the next 20 years or so** . . .

**Remember, no NHL All Star Weekend during Olympic Years, so every 4th year there won't be one . . .

 

I think picking the teams like on the playground was neat.