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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Empire State Development Announces Partnership with 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic, Fan Fest

January 22, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Empire State Development (ESD) has announced a partnership with the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic and I LOVE NEW YORK Fan Fest to be held Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Syracuse.

"Winter in New York State is better than ever, with opportunities to ski the state's 51 mountains, snowmobile hundreds of miles of trails, and attend the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic," said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. "We're excited to work with all five New York AHL teams to connect sports fans with the many winter attractions and destinations found across the state. Through a partnership with I LOVE NEW YORK, the Syracuse Crunch will welcome thousands of fans to downtown Syracuse Jan. 31 - Feb. 1 to enjoy the action-packed AHL event."

Through this partnership with I LOVE NEW YORK, fans are offered the opportunity to purchase tickets to the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic at a discounted price. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.iloveny.com/AHL.

"We are honored to have great support from our home state and I LOVE NEW YORK," said Syracuse Crunch owner Howard Dolgon. "Now fans from across the United States and Canada will get to experience all the wonderful things our great state has to offer."

"We are excited to host the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic," said Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney. "The Syracuse Crunch partnering with I LOVE NEW YORK adds even more fun to the fan experience on top of the great hockey that will be played by stars in the AHL. We look forward to welcoming people from all over the United States and Canada to Onondaga County for a fantastic experience."

"I am pleased to welcome the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic to Syracuse, which is proudly a city for all seasons," said Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner. "I look forward to hockey fans from across the country descending upon Downtown Syracuse to enjoy their favorite sport and to sample our wide array of restaurants, bars, and cultural attractions."

The 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic schedule of events includes:

Sunday, Jan. 31

12 p.m. - 8 p.m. - I LOVE NEW YORK Fan Fest at the Oncenter. Free and open to the public.

4:30 p.m. - C&S Companies VIP Party featuring Five for Fighting, Rob Bartlett and Moody McCarthy

8 - 10 p.m. - 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Skills Competition at the War Memorial Arena

Monday, Feb. 1

8 a.m. - 7 p.m. - I LOVE NEW YORK Fan Fest at the Oncenter. Free and open to the public.

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony at Crouse Hinds Theater

7 - 10 p.m. - 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Challenge at the War Memorial Arena.

*Event times are subject to change. Ticket information is available at syracusecrunch.com.

"I am thrilled that the City of Syracuse will be home to the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic and I LOVE NEW YORK Fan Fest," said Senator John DeFrancisco. "This collaborative event will help to showcase the outstanding talent that we have here, while also promoting the many wonderful indoor and outdoor activities that both residents and tourists can enjoy during the winter months in Central New York."

"We are excited to invite thousands of hockey fans to the region Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 for the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic," said Assemblyman William Magnarelli. "Thanks to Governor Cuomo's commitment to tourism, we are able to host this national event, putting the spot light on Syracuse and making Central NY a winter destination with something for everyone."

"Upstate New York, especially the city of Syracuse, is the perfect place to showcase how amazing our area is in the winter months," said Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter. "We are excited to welcome the AHL and its fans to Downtown Syracuse for the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic. We know they will fall in love with winter in New York by the time the puck drops."

The 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League: Of the 679 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Ben Bishop, Troy Brouwer, Ryan Callahan, Zdeno Chara, Logan Couture, Jiri Hudler, Tyler Johnson, Chris Kunitz, Ryan Miller, Gustav Nyquist, Zach Parise,Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Cory Schneider, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, P.K. Subban and Mats Zuccarello.

Announced by Governor Cuomo at the Third Tourism Summit in November 2015, ESD's Division of Tourism/I LOVE NEW YORK has partnered with all five New York State AHL teams: Syracuse Crunch, Rochester Americans, Albany Devils, Binghamton Senators, and the Utica Comets. The partnership aims to increase the economic impact of spectators at New York winter sporting events and expose sports fans to winter getaway opportunities throughout the State. As part of the partnership, the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic, a nationally televised event, will be hosted by the Syracuse Crunch and I LOVE NEW YORK in Syracuse Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

The 2016 AHL All-Star Classic will be broadcast to a national audience and attract travelers from across the United States and Canada. I LOVE NEW YORK's iconic logo will be featured on the ice, throughout the arena and in other marketing efforts, including print and television. The new I LOVE NEW YORK Winter Ad, first revealed at Governor Cuomo's Third Tourism Summit last November, will be shown both in the stadium and throughout the nationally televised game.

Tickets for the two-day 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic are on sale now. Ticket prices range from $40-60 and can be purchased either in person at the Syracuse Crunch office located in the War Memorial Arena at 800 South State Street in Syracuse, by calling (315) 473-4444 or through all Ticketmaster outlets.

The 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 31 (8 p.m. ET) will keep its traditional format, with All-Stars from the Eastern Conference squaring off against All-Stars from the Western Conference in seven skills events.

The 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Challenge will take place on the evening of Feb. 1 (7 p.m. ET). Instead of a traditional 60-minute game, the AHL's All-Stars will be divided into four teams, one representing each of the league's divisions (Atlantic, North, Central, Pacific). The teams will then play a round-robin tournament featuring six games of nine minutes each; the first half of each game will be played at 4-on-4, and the second half at 3-on-3. The two teams with the best records at the end of the round-robin tournament will face off for the championship, a six-minute game played at 3-on-3.

In operation since 1936 and celebrating its 80th-anniversary season in 2015-16, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the 14th year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2014-15.

Syracuse Crunch single game and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased either in person at the Crunch Box Office located in the War Memorial at 800 South State Street in Syracuse or by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@officialsyracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch and #BelieveInBlue.

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