NHL Cancels Olympic Event and Bets on the All-Star Weekend in 2027
The NHL has made a strategic decision that directly affects its plans for the future. The Olympic farewell event scheduled for February at UBS Arena, the home of the New York Islanders, has been canceled. Instead, the league intends to hold the All-Star Weekend festivities there in 2027.
This modification to the sports calendar comes after an evaluation of the available options and the search for maximizing the impact of its events. Originally, the UBS Arena was to be the venue for the 2026 All-Star Weekend, a decision that sought to take advantage of the infrastructure and strategic location of New York City as a starting point for players, coaches, and staff to travel to Milan.
The league considered the possibility of experimenting with an event that would serve as a prelude to the Olympic Games, but ultimately opted for a different strategy.
The success of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, held earlier in the year, influenced the decision. NHL executives analyzed the viability of a traditional All-Star Weekend, with skills competitions and the 3-on-3 tournament, which has become a key element in the mid-season event for almost a decade.
The NHL plans to use the weekend of February 5-7, 2027 for the All-Star Weekend.
