The Celtics are applying to host the NBA All-Star Game, and they're likely targeting 2026. (Boston: mortgage)

[BostonBornMassMade]

Not really much here, to comment on. But this will be good for the city. Adam Silver wants it, and Mayor Wu and Governor Healey want it. According to Gary Washburn at the Globe if they apply they will get it- it's just a formality.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/...20since%201964.

Its an economic powerhouse and absolutely phenomenal for hospitality, nightclubs and restaurants. Apparently with the new hotels, the Seaport, and the expansion of the Hub on Causeway the team and city now feel good applying. The biggest issue is going to be finding alternative arenas to host the League All-Star Game and the Celebrity All-Star game. Both of these will probably end up being at Agganis Arena or Conte Forum.

Brian Worrell on Boston City Council is leading the charge to prepare the city.

Boston City Council to consider hosting NBA All-Star Game at TD Garden

Mayor Michelle Wu supported the idea, saying it could be great for Boston’s economy. Last year’s All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio led to $140 million in direct spending and generated nearly $250 million in total economic impact for the city.

^And that's in Cleveland in coming off a global pandemic.

Boston in 2026 would probably have an economic impact of $400 M, and well over $200M in direct spending. In a 5-day span..

[bostonguy1960]

What do they even mean "The biggest issue is going to be finding alternative arenas to host the League All-Star Game and the Celebrity All-Star Game"?

Both will surely be at the Garden...so what do Agganis Arena at B.U. and Conte Forum at B.C have to do with anything here?

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

What do they even mean "The biggest issue is going to be finding alternative arenas to host the League All-Star Game and the Celebrity All-Star Game"?

Both will surely be at the Garden...so what do Agganis Arena at B.U. and Conte Forum at B.C have to do with anything here?

Typically in any NBA All-Star weekend, those games are not held in the Main Arena. Like in Las Vegas the All-Star Game is in T-Mobile Arena but the Celbrtiy game was held in the Thomas and Mack Center(home to UNLV).

The TD Garden will be occupied with I guess a bunch of other things all weekend until Saturday (3pt.Slam Dunk contest) and Sunday Night (All-Star game). This is part of why it hasn't happened- the Celtics share the arena with the bruins and they have more control over the Garden for some reason. It's difficult to do this when you share an arena with hockey but when there is enough interest it gets done.

People start arriving for All-Star weekend on Wednesday and fly out on Monday. It's full of mixers, photo ops, charities, Galas, tours, and whatnot. It's essentially a global basketball conference and festivity and the Garden will probably host much of this. Probably the New Balance Center too.

Segun Idowu is a guy I know well, I know he is going to use this as a way to push through some zoning and licensing reforms in regard to nightlife. It will also give the green light to more hotels to open up in Boston and I'm sure he'll be working with Mayor Wu to incentivize that.

The NBA is trying to get all cities involved but needed commitment from Bosotn They'd be able to host it correctly which means multiple arenas, police presence, and the ability to commandeer a lot of social spaces over the weekend. For all those reasons that why Boston hasn't hosted any All-star game since 1999 and only like 2 in the last 60 years. It requires a disruption in the status quo and cooperation on a city level. It's much bigger than the MLB All-Star Game.

[bostonguy1960]

Thanks for all this info.

But didn't Cleveland host everything at its main arena, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, last year? Or there's a secondary smaller arena there which hosted certain events?

And didn't L.A. host a recent game... so wasn't the Celebrity game at Staples, now Crypto com arena, and not in a different or smaller venue there? Unlike Las Vegas, NV which you said had more than one venue.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Thanks for all this info.

But didn't Cleveland host everything at its main arena, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, last year? Or there's a secondary smaller arena there which hosted certain events?

And didn't L.A. host a recent game... so wasn't the Celebrity game at Staples, now Crypto com arena, and not in a different or smaller venue there? Unlike Las Vegas, NV which you said had more than one venue.

Just for basketball games and practice they used

Tower City Center
Cleveland Public Auditorium
And Wolstein Center.

There were NFT scavenger hunts, Earth Wind and Fire concert, Macy Gray Concert, many many rap concerts, gaming events, Shaws 50th birthday bash. The dude who made the MLK monument even had an art installation unveiled there during it all.

It’s just a massive undertakign for any city which is why we have a 3 year run-up. For sure New Balance, a college, Big Night alive, Downtown Crossing and the Seaport will all be involved and holding events

Here’s the full schedule of events and venues from Cleveland.com it is EXTENSIVE to put it mildly. There are reasons city council is holding this hearing 37 months in advance.

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainm...ties-more.html

Just to be clear the entire point of NBA All Star Weekend is to take over a city. It’s windfall for businesses which is why places like Salt Lake City and Indianapolis are hosting it now. Everyone wants it. In the past like 15 years ago all of this had to be done without city support and coordination really and it was a mess for some cities. The list of takers was small. Once cities realized they had to support it to benefit from it- it’s taken off.