NHL Cancels Olympic Event and Bets on the All-Star Weekend in 2027
The NHL has made the decision to cancel the Olympic farewell event that was scheduled for February at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders. Instead, the league plans to hold the All-Star Weekend festivities at the same arena in 2027, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan on Tuesday night.
The decision to locate the All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena in 2026 was initially announced with the intention that it would serve as a starting point for players, coaches, and staff to gather and then travel from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Milan.
The resounding success of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament earlier this year led executives to reconsider holding a traditional All-Star Weekend, with its skills competition and the 3-on-3 game or tournament that has become a fixture of the mid-season hockey event for almost a decade.
NHL officials had indicated that the Islanders would likely host the All-Star Game in the odd-numbered year between the return to the Olympics and the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. The hope is to use the weekend of February 5-7, 2027 for this event.
