Call it an Arrrgh Star Weekend.
At least that's how Rob Higgins of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission refers to the upcoming NHL All Star Game that'll be played at Tampa's Amalie Arena This coming January.
The game will take place the weekend of January 27th, 2018, the same weekend as Tampa's iconic Gasparilla parade and festivities.
And that's just the matchup NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman wants to see.
Bettman visited Amalie Arena Thursday to talk more about the All Star Game, which hasn't been in Tampa since 1999.
He says a lot has changed in Tampa since then. The Lightning's captain, Steven Stamkos was only eight years old then.
But Bettman points to the Lighting as a "world class" organization with owner Jeff Vinik at the helm.
Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn admits security and traffic will be big challenges that weekend, but the city has experience handling huge events. The 2021 Super Bowl will take place at Raymond James Stadium, for instance.