With two arenas and a planned party plaza under its control, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. intends to grab as many big events as possible.
"We want to host something major every year," MLSEL president Richard Peddie said yesterday.
Among those events confirmed, in the works or to be bid on include:
- The 2006 NLL all-star game at the Air Canada Centre on Feb. 26.
- The 2007 American Hockey League all-star game.
"We've put the application in (for the AHL all-star game)," ACC general manager Bob Hunter said. "We have a good shot, as a new franchise in a new market, as odd as it sounds."
The Marlies will play out of the Ricoh Coliseum, but the all-star game would be at the ACC.
- The 2009 or 2012 world junior hockey championship, which would be played at the ACC, Ricoh, plus another arena in the GTA.
- The 2011 NBA all-star game at the ACC.
"We wanted it earlier, but we don't want to conflict with the 2010 Winter Olympics," Peddie said. "By 2011, we should be finished Maple Leaf Square (a $350 million condo/retail project on the ACC's west side, which will include room for 6,000 fans for pre and post-event festivities)."
