Team Canada's Jonathan Drouin celebrates a NHL preseason goal with the Lightning (Associated Press) <\/p>\n
Some 3,500 Canadians trekked to Malmo, Sweden for this world junior championship, so one can only imagine how many snowbirds would flock to a more familiar travel destination. <\/p>\n
The world junior runs on Canada's seemingly boundless passion for the event, although between the full rinks in Malmo for Sweden's games and the uptick in U.S. media coverage, interest in other top hockey nations is increasing incrementally. The combination of those two elements the ability and willingness of Canadian fans to travel over the Christmas holidays and the increased access American fans have to the tournament means the time for the U.S. to not host the WJC in a border city is fast approaching. <\/p>\n
Enter Tampa, Fla., which has already done a bang-up job hosting a NCAA Frozen Four. <\/p>\n
From Erik Erlendsson (@erlendssonTBO): <\/p>\n
While the Forum would serve as the main venue for games, including the semifinal and championship games, a second venue is required. Germain Arena in Estero, home of the Florida Everblades in the East Coast Hockey League, is a likely candidate. <\/p>\n
The Tampa area has hosted multiple Super Bowls, NCAA mens and womens basketball tournaments and the 2012 NCAA mens ice hockey championship. The 2015 Womens Final Four, 2016 NCAA Frozen Four and 2017 NCAA football championship game will be in Tampa. <\/p>\n
[Rob] Higgins [who is the executive director of the Tampa Sports Commission Ed.] hopes the success of such events, particularly the Frozen Four, will resonate when the bidding process begins. <\/p>\n
The fact we were a non-traditional host (of the 2012 Frozen Four) and were able to be successful ... speaks directly to our community as a sports town, as well as the passion we have for hockey here, Higgins said.(Tampa Tribune) <\/p>\n
But what if there's a conflict with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers home playoff game? Don't worry, probably not a possibility. <\/p>\n
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World junior championship: Tampa vying to host in 2018<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Team Canada's Jonathan Drouin celebrates a NHL preseason goal with the Lightning (Associated Press) Some 3,500 Canadians trekked to Malmo, Sweden for this world junior championship, so one can only imagine how many snowbirds would flock to a more familiar travel destination. The world junior runs on Canada's seemingly boundless passion for the event, although between the full rinks in Malmo for Sweden's games and the uptick in U.S. media coverage, interest in other top hockey nations is increasing incrementally Continue reading