NHL All-Star Game 2013: Columbus Reportedly Awarded Midseason Extravaganza

The Columbus Blue Jackets will host the 2013 NHL All-Star Game, the team announced Saturday through their official Twitter account.

The Columbus Dispatch reported on Friday that Columbus was going to be the host city of next year's All-Star Game.

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The Blue Jackets applied to host the game in 2013, 2014 or 2015, although the ’14 game might not be played if NHL players are sent to compete in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

One source told The Dispatch last night that the Blue Jackets – in the midst of the worst season in franchise history, and in dire need of good news – were informed yesterday by the league that they would be the host city next season. 

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The Blue Jackets have the worst record in the NHL despite making bold offseason moves to acquire star center Jeff Carter via trade from the Philadelphia Flyers and signing defenseman James Wisniewski through free agency.

This is fantastic news for their fans and will certainly have a positive effect on the Blue Jackets and the city next season.

The only significant NHL event Columbus has hosted since the Blue Jackets came into the league for the 2000-01 season was the 2007 Entry Draft. The team and city will certainly receive a nice economic boost from hosting the game, and the Dispatch explained how in their report.

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The game could generate $15 million to $25 million in revenue for Columbus, based on economic impact studies done by cities that have hosted previously.

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Despite having a poor team nearly every year, Columbus has a lot of passionate hockey fans and is a worthy city to host the All-Star Game.

The Ohio market is an area the NHL should do well in. The state has several professional sports teams that have had success in recent seasons and fan bases who remain loyal to their team even in bad times.

This move will likely cause some anger among fans who have winning teams yet their city keeps getting passed over when the All-Star Game host is announced each season. The Detroit Red Wings, the NHL's model franchise for over a decade, hasn't hosted the All-Star Game since the 1979-80 season.

Nashville, Phoenix, Anaheim, and Winnipeg are the only franchises left that have yet to host an NHL All-Star Game. For the 2014 ASG, the league should certainly look at Nashville as hosts.

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Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.