ARTICLE
In their first two years in the Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms quickly became one of the American Hockey League's most successful teams. Attendance ranked seventh or better in the 30-team league both years, and the franchise won an award from the AHL for outstanding fan experience at home games for the 2014-15 season. To recognize the Phantoms, the AHL-affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, the league gave them a much bigger reward for their third season — the team will host the 2017 All-Star Classic on Jan. 29 and 30 at the PPL Center in Allentown. "The facility here is second to none in the American Hockey League and we look at the amenities around it that can help to support an event of this magnitude," David Andrews, the president and CEO of the AHL, said at a news conference Saturday announcing the event. "This is a perfect place for us to come. The fan support here for the last couple of years has been outstanding and this is really something that we feel we can almost reward the fans." Mike Stershic, president of Discover Lehigh Valley, applauded the Phantoms for finding such quick success with the team. He said the strong attendance records are a testament to the atmosphere the Phantoms create at home games — a skill they share with the Lehigh VaIley IronPigs, the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. "You're going to have a much better experience here than you will at other cities in the same leagues," said Stershic, whose group promotes regional tourism. "The ownership and management of both teams are excellent and make the game-day experience something to experience over and over again." Using some back-of-the-napkin math, Stershic estimated the all-star game would generate approximately $600,000 in the local economy. Tony Iannelli, president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and a longtime USA Hockey referee, said the event would showcase both the players and the region. The AHL serves as the highest level of minor league hockey, and the players selected for the all-star game are a phone call away from reaching the National Hockey League. Andrews said the game will be broadcast nationally. Iannelli said that will reinforce the region's reputation as an up-and-coming market. "Long-term, it showcases the Lehigh Valley as a wonderful place to live, work and do business. Who would have ever thought that in downtown Allentown we would be hosting the AHL all-star game?" Iannelli said. Rob Brooks, co-president of the Phantoms, said much the same thing at the news conference. "This will be great financially for the local community, with the hotels and restaurants and the retail and the airports," he said. "But also the platform and the spotlight that's it's going to be able to give the Lehigh Valley and the revitalization of Allentown is incredible." It will be the league's 30th All-Star Classic, which has been held annually since the 1994-95 season. The AHL's first all-star game took place in 1942. The only other time the Phantoms hosted the Classic was in 1999 at the First Union Center, now known as the Wells Fargo Center, in Philadelphia. Read the full article at The Morning Call.
Attendance ranked seventh or better in the 30-team league both years, and the franchise won an award from the AHL for outstanding fan experience at home games for the 2014-15 season.
"The facility here is second to none in the American Hockey League and we look at the amenities around it that can help to support an event of this magnitude," David Andrews, the president and CEO of the AHL, said at a news conference Saturday announcing the event.
"This is a perfect place for us to come. The fan support here for the last couple of years has been outstanding and this is really something that we feel we can almost reward the fans." Mike Stershic, president of Discover Lehigh Valley, applauded the Phantoms for finding such quick success with the team. He said the strong attendance records are a testament to the atmosphere the Phantoms create at home games — a skill they share with the Lehigh VaIley IronPigs, the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A affiliate.
"You're going to have a much better experience here than you will at other cities in the same leagues," said Stershic, whose group promotes regional tourism. "The ownership and management of both teams are excellent and make the game-day experience something to experience over and over again."
Using some back-of-the-napkin math, Stershic estimated the all-star game would generate approximately $600,000 in the local economy.
Tony Iannelli, president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and a longtime USA Hockey referee, said the event would showcase both the players and the region. The AHL serves as the highest level of minor league hockey, and the players selected for the all-star game are a phone call away from reaching the National Hockey League.
"Long-term, it showcases the Lehigh Valley as a wonderful place to live, work and do business. Who would have ever thought that in downtown Allentown we would be hosting the AHL all-star game?" Iannelli said.
Rob Brooks, co-president of the Phantoms, said much the same thing at the news conference.
"This will be great financially for the local community, with the hotels and restaurants and the retail and the airports," he said. "But also the platform and the spotlight that's it's going to be able to give the Lehigh Valley and the revitalization of Allentown is incredible."
It will be the league's 30th All-Star Classic, which has been held annually since the 1994-95 season. The AHL's first all-star game took place in 1942.
The only other time the Phantoms hosted the Classic was in 1999 at the First Union Center, now known as the Wells Fargo Center, in Philadelphia.