By Zachary Baru
The cold weather can only keep the NBA All-Sar Game out of Boston for so long. On Monday, the Boston Globe reported that Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck told the paper the Celtics are considering filing an application to host a future All-Star Game, something that has not occured in 49 years.
Yes that is right, the nation's seventh largest media market, and one of, if not the most passionate sports market, has not hosted an NBA All-Star Game since 1964. 13,464 fans saw Bill Russel, Tom Heinsohn, Sam Jones and Wilt Chamberlain, among others, in Boston's final All-Star Game at the Boston Garden.
If you're wondering why Boston hasn't hosted the game since, no it's not a lack of hotels or public transportation. In recent years, it seems to be related to one aspect of the region - weather. The last NBA All-Star Game to be hosted in a cold-weather climate was in 2005 at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The game has been absent from the northeast since 2002, when the First Union Center in Philadelphia hosted. There have been two name changes to that arena since then.
Boston is more than ready for a game of this magnitude. It has more than enough convention space, hotels, and public transportation to accomodate the fans. If there are still any doubters, just think of the World Series games, Stanley Cup Finals, and wait a minute - even the NBA Finals. Still doubting Boston can host an All-Star Game?
Admittedly, Boston's infrastructure can be used as a reason to avoid such an event. With all of the public transportation we have, infrastructure will continue to be a problem in Boston, and it would not be a suprise if this is used as an excuse.
When it comes to sports, Boston can always be guaranteed to show its passion. This is a sports city. It has always been, and will always be. If the NBA wants a city that will undoubtedly show its full support for not just the game on Sunday, but all of the weekend's festivities, Boston can get the job done. We have the convention space, the hotel accomodations, and all of the public transportation you need to get right into TD Garden. We can't guarantee decent weather, but the highest level of passion and energy would be a sure bet in Boston.
Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.
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