Roughnecks bid to host All-Star game
March 10, 2004 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
The Calgary Roughnecks are bidding to bring the National Lacrosse League's All-Star game to the Saddledome in 2005.
The bid is being made in conjunction with the NHL's Calgary Flames.
"I was at the recent All-Star game in Denver, which was organized by Kroenke Sports Entertainment (owners of the Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets and various other sports teams)," said Roughnecks president and principal owner Brad Banister.
"It was a spectacular event witnessed by more than 17,000 people. The show was great - and the guys on the floor played it for real, no quarter asked or given, not at all like a typical All-Star game."
Banister added: "But I believe we and the Flames can surpass even what the Colorado organization achieved. It won't be easy, but I'm confident we can excel.
"We want to make the people of Calgary, indeed everyone in Alberta, proud of the Roughnecks - and we will pull out all the stops to ensure that goal is attained."
The current NLL champions, the Toronto Rock, are the only other team pursuing the All-Star game.
"I have no doubt the Toronto bid will be a strong one," said Banister, "therefore it is up to us to make the case that Calgary, North America's newest hotbed of lacrosse, is the ideal location for the NLL's showcase event."
He called upon members of Alberta's lacrosse family to bombard the NLL head office with e-mails ( www.nll.com ) expressing support for Calgary's bid.
Banister says there are many reasons why he wants to host the All-Star game. Principally, of course, is the opportunity to bring the best lacrosse players on the planet to Calgary. Then there's the international exposure given to the people and places of southern Alberta.
But he is also anxious to reward those people he terms as the most loyal fans in the NLL.
"Some of these people have been with us, through thick and thin, since our birth in 2001," he said, "and if we get this game, I'm going to give every one of our season ticket holders a free ticket.. I want to reward them in a meaningful and tangible manner for their loyalty."
The NLL All-Star game will take place in late February, 2005.
National Lacrosse League Stories from March 10, 2004
- Anaheim Storm News and Notes - Anaheim Storm
- Roughnecks bid to host All-Star game - Calgary Roughnecks
- Sting's Miron, Maddalena win NLL awards - Arizona Sting
- Miron honored in weekly awards - NLL
- Bandits sign Kazarian - Buffalo Bandits
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