Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
More than a year of planning for the Rockford IceHogs is about to turn into execution.
The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Hours, weeks and months of work have mostly taken place at the Rockford front desk, and next week will be business hours.
The BMO Center ice surface was given a new look, along with artwork and advertising for the All-Star event. This is yet another task that must be crossed off the organizational to-do list. The regular season returns next weekend as the Milwaukee Admirals come to town for a pair of home games.
Juggling 36 home games and the day-to-day aspects of managing a hockey team, while also preparing to welcome fans, players, coaches, management and others from the AHL. IceHogs President of Business Operations assists in coordination Ryan Snyder together with Mike PeckTeam Vice President of Marketing, Content and Operations.
Peck estimates that preparation for the AHL All-Star Classic has accounted for about 75 percent of the front office's workload since the end of December, but that's not surprising.
“We kind of knew we were going to do it,” Peck continued, “and people had mentioned to us before the whole process, 'Hey, you know, this is going to take up a lot of your time.'” It was, but it was a great process. It's been great working with the league office and we're excited to have people from all over the AHL come to Rockford. “
Snyder believes the event in Rockford is crucial on two fronts. This is a boost for business and the Rockford economy, especially in mid-February. This is an opportunity to showcase the BMO Center.
Snyder said more than 800 hotel nights have been booked. Local restaurants and businesses will also welcome visitors from the other 31 AHL markets and beyond. Given Rockford's location near several Central Division neighbors, there will be an influx of away fans from Rockford's opponents. This year marks the first time the AHL All-Star Classic will be played in the Midwest since the Grand Rapids Griffins hosted it in 2004. With major air hubs like Chicago just a short drive away, flying directly from the AHL map is also an option for fans further afield.
“It's a very accessible city,” Peck explains. “Everything you could want is here. We have some great local restaurants, so you're bound to find great food. It's very easy to get around this town.”
When those fans arrive, they'll see that the BMO Center has also undergone more than $30 million in renovations. The building opened in 1981 and bears little resemblance to its predecessor. Upgrades include a new scoreboard and sound system, LED ribbon boards, digital dashboards, improvements to the building’s office and club space, a new bar and a refreshed look. This building is much different than the one the IceHogs were in in 2007 when they joined the AHL.
Before Tuesday's AHL All-Star Skills Competition, fans can head outside the arena for a block party. This winter-themed event is free and open to the public and will offer fans several activities and food options.
“I really think the fans are going to be surprised,” Peck said. “I know I’m excited to showcase our building.”
For IceHogs fans, there is a longer-term goal, which is to maintain and expand a critical part of any hockey team's business, the season ticket base. The team included the event in its season ticket package.
“We want all season ticket members to have access to these tickets,” Snyder emphasized, “They're really powerful for us. We've moved a lot of tickets to our season ticket library.”
There is also an intangible sense of civic pride. That can be hard to quantify exactly, but Snyder said he can feel it in Rockford.
“The Rockford community can host an event that they are very proud of,” Snyder said. “They are able to attract a national event and we get our name out there competing against other markets and the league trusts us to host their most outstanding event every year.
“It says a lot about Rockford. That's one of the main reasons we wanted to host this event. It's really about the pride of the community, bringing something special to this community that they can be proud of and they can showcase that to the world with a game that's televised regionally on NHL Network and TSN in North America and on CHSN.”
“It's going to be a focal point for our region and I think it makes our market very proud.”
From renovations to strengthening and growing the fan base to the inspiration to host and now the long process of turning the idea into a reality, Rockford's front office is nearly complete. There's still more work to be done, but the IceHogs and their city will be able to put on an event they'll remember long after it's over.
“It's a lot of work,” Peck said, “but we know it will pay off in the end.”
About two decades in the American Hockey League, TheAHL.com feature writer Patrick Williams also currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. In 2016, he received the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding coverage of the league.
