The game at Philips Arena in early February 2005 would be the third major-league All-Star event in Atlanta in a five-year period. The Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played at Turner Field in 2000, and the NBA All-Stars were at Philips Arena last year.
The newspaper, citing unidentified sources, said the NHL plans to award the event to Atlanta shortly after the sale of the Thrashers is completed. A group of nine investors continues to negotiate with the NHL and the NBA on the legal terms concerning the purchase of the hockey team and the Atlanta Hawks from AOL Time Warner.
The buyers have said they hope the deal will be completed by the end of the month. There has been no discussion of contingency plan for the All-Star Game should the sale fall through, the newspaper said.
The labor situation is another matter. The NHL's collective bargaining agreement expires before next season. If the players' union refuses to accept some sort of salary restraint, there could be a season-ending lockout.
This season's All-Star game is in St. Paul, Minn., on Feb. 8.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/1/165496