It’s over. An event that really has been in the works since 2012 – an NHL All-Star game in Columbus – is over.
Think about that. For three years our city has been hoping, and planning and waiting to showcase what we could do – what Columbus was about. And finally the time came. This past weekend was the big payoff and what a payoff it was.
First came the Winter Park, a glorious outside festival of s’mores, live TV, food, drink and the marquis outdoor rink. If you didn’t make it on the outdoor rink, well…you should have. There still is nothing like skating outdoors – the crisp air biting at your cheeks, the ice just a touch drier crunching under your skates. Bundled up with a scarf and mittens and perhaps your favorite toque as you whipped around the ice – maybe even watching a Blue Jackets game on the outdoor jumbotron. It was glorious. And right around the corner was the best sight – the snow slide. Seriously. A 30+ foot high SNOW SLIDE. Amazing.
There was the Fan Fair in the Convention Center, the 5K run and of course the skills competition and the game…all of which was expertly planned and executed but…
As it all ended last night, and we walked out of the Arena, it all started to mean a little bit more. More than an ice rink, more than Johansen wearing a Buckeye jersey…as the All-Star experience in Columbus ended, a light snow had begun to fall. The final riders were heading down the snow slide one last time…and stragglers in hockey jerseys representing teams across the league (I swear I saw all 30 teams represented…and a Whalers jersey) wandered around the Arena District my awe and appreciation began to grow. It was beautiful.
Think about how expertly the whole thing was done. Everything related to All-Star weekend was easy to get to and within walking distance. There was a brand that fell across the whole city…every business every employee bore the All-Star logo on their jacket or pocket. As you walked by the convention center you heard talk of Winter Park, as you took off your skates at McFerson Commons you saw people sharing photos with the Stanley Cup taken over at Fan Fair. The city collectively took on the spirit of the thing and it was wonderful.
And what was better? The world started to notice it too. Any host worth their snuff has some degree of nervousness before an event. No matter how hard you plan, or what you do ahead of time, you live in fear that something will go wrong…and almost as bad, that someone will notice. But hour by hour the praise started to roll in. You started to hear it from players around the league who were in the city for the weekend – guys like Bergeron, Stamkos, saying good things about Columbus. Even NHL Rookies like Jiri Sekac from Montreal mentioning that he was going to see some places around town with fellow Czech (and former Jacket) Jakub Voracek. And then, the media – known for being unbiased, and rightly critical of what they see – well they started to share a little bit of love as well. Thank you’s, congratulations and commendations of the quality of the event and the city started to roll in. Capped off by a grade of “A+ not being high enough” from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman while on the radio Sunday morning.
Ok sure, not everyone was a fan of the Cannon but that’s ok…it’s our “thing” and we love it.
So as the weekend drew to a close, the pride only began to grow – in our city, in the organizations that worked tirelessly to put on such an event, in our team and in who we are.
Right or wrong, Columbus has had a bit of an inferiority complex – we’ve been a butt of jokes in the past – both on and off the ice. And to see what we have known about our great city reflected back to us by those who came to visit, well that was something really really special.
So in closing – THANK YOU. Thank you to those who came to our great city and enjoyed every moment of All-Star Weekend. Thank you to those who worked so hard – every volunteer, every local businesses’ employees, the Columbus Sports Commission, the Blue Jackets and thank you, Mr. Mac. This was but a piece of your vision – you brought this to us. You brought us not only a tremendous weekend of things to do and remember, you brought our city the love of the hockey world. You brought us pride, you brought us the opportunity to show what the Blue Jackets and Columbus are all about.
We did it, Columbus. I almost wish it never had to end…
Carry the Flag.
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