The Senate passed a bill Monday that would provide millions of dollars in funding to cover the cost of a trip to the National Hockey League’s (NHL) All-Star Game in Chicago next week.
The bill passed with bipartisan support, with Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) joining Sens.
Joe Manchin (D) and Jeff Merkley (D).
Senators Joe Donnelly (D), Tim Kaine (D)-Virginia, Rob Portman (R), and Jon Tester (D)(all Democrats) also voted in favor of the measure.
While there are currently no details on exactly what will happen at the game, The Hill reported that it is expected that the game will cost $30 million to $50 million.
The National Hockey Conference (NHC) also said that it expects $20 million to be spent on the event.
“It is a huge, huge, massive event,” NHC Commissioner Gary Bettman told The Hill.
“And it’s something we have not done in years.”
The NHL said it will allocate $5 million to the game and $5.5 million for other events in addition to the All-star game.
The NHL, which has hosted the event since 1994, will also contribute $5 for a game ticket, which will cost about $100.
“We’re working very hard with our partners and the league to make sure that there is a successful event and that we get that right,” Bettman said at a press conference.
“We know there is tremendous interest in our game.”
The Hill’s Mike DeBonis reported that the bill will allow players to play in the All Star Game, but not for the league.
“As of today, there is no way to make a player eligible for the AllStar Game without going through the NHL and NHLPA,” NHL Commissioner Gary Peters said.
“So we have no plans to expand that.
We do not want to expand it.”
The bill is expected to pass the Senate this week.
