Rockford will host the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic. Here’s how the Hogs won the bid and what to expect

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Rockford IceHogs will host the AHL All-Star Classic for the first time next year, bringing the league’s premier regular season event back to the Midwest for the first time in more than two decades.

The showcase will be at the 6,300-plus seat BMO Center, 300 Elm St., starting with the skills competition on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, followed by the Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, and the All-Star Challenge that evening.

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The team is hosting the game during the AHL’s 90th anniversary season and it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Blackhawks, which owns the IceHogs and are its NHL affiliate.

AHL President Scott Howson made the announcement during the final intermission of Sunday’s 5-0 home win over the Milwaukee Admirals. He, along with team and local officials, held a news conference Monday at the BMO Center to provide more details.

Here’s a breakdown on how the Hogs won the bid to host the game and more of what you can expect in 2026:

Why was Rockford chosen?

The league was looking for an opportunity to bring its All-Star game back to the Midwest, which hadn’t hosted an All-Star Classic since Grand Rapids, Michigan, did so in 2004.

The BMO Center offered a good location and venue, with approximately $23 million in renovations over the past several years ranging from a new video display system, new box office and entryway, new seating and other upgrades to the fan experience and behind-the-scenes comforts for players.

“The makeover really is quite remarkable,” Howson said during a news conference Monday. “This is a beautiful place to watch a hockey game and we’re so looking forward to coming.”

Howson also credited gains the team has made since the Chicago Blackhawks took ownership of the franchise in 2021.

This year, he said the IceHogs are leading the AHL in ticket revenue growth with a 28% increase. The team has also shown a commitment to the community, winning the Award of Excellence for Community Service for the AHL’s 17-team Western Conference during last year’s All-Star break.

“The Rockford IceHogs have experienced a tremendous turnaround since the Blackhawks assumed ownership in 2021,” Howson said. “Under the leadership of Mark Bernard and Ryan Snider, we have seen significant growth in all key areas: attendance, community involvement and revenue.”

The All-Star Classic is in Palm Dessert, California, this year. It was in San Jose, California, last year. Howson said everything came into place for Rockford to host in 2026 and bring the game back to the Midwest.

“The timing fits perfectly for the AHL: A renovated BMO Center, a flourishing IceHogs franchise, the centennial celebration of the Chicago Blackhawks, great support from the city, led by Mayor McNamara, the county and the state,” Howson said. “I can feel the energy building already.”

Will the game be televised?

It is expected that both days will be televised nationally: on the NHL Network in the United States and on The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada.

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How many people will come here for the game?

Howson said roughly 400 to 500 people come to the host city, including players, coaches, officials, trainers and other support staff.

Winnebago County Board Chairman Joe Chiarelli said you can also expect thousands of local and visiting fans over the two days, providing a positive lift to businesses. Rockford and Winnebago County will also be highlighted on national TV broadcasts.

“This will attract visitors to the region from not only the Midwest, but also from around the U.S. and Canada,” Chiarelli said. “This is an opportunity for us to showcase our beautiful city and county as it fosters our community pride and excitement.”

Mayor Tom McNamara said hosting the All-Star game here is “a celebration of the city’s enduring love of the game of hockey.”

“Rockford is hockey,” McNamara said. “Our residents absolutely love coming to the IceHogs games. It’s a family-friendly experience where they just get to enjoy top-tier talent and enjoy this beautiful city.”

What to expect from the game

Howson said the AHL’s All-Star Classic, unlike some professional sports all-star games, is competitive.

It also features future National Hockey League players on the ice. Roughly 87% of NHL players come through the AHL, and since 1995 nearly 95% of All-Star Classic participants have gone on to the NHL, Howson said.

“Our All-Star game is not like some of the other all-star games we see,” he said. “Once the crowd gets into it, our players put a lot into it. They care, and there’s a lot of passion in the game. So you will see great competition.”

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Former AHL All-Stars in the league now include, among many others, Connor Hellebuyck, Jonathan Marchessault, Cam Atkinson, Drake Batherson,William Nylander and Mikko Rantanen.

“It really is, along with the Calder Cup Finals, the marquee and signature event of the American Hockey League,” Howson said.

Why host the game on Feb. 10-11?

The last three years the game has been hosted on the first Sunday and Monday in February. In 2026, Rockford will host the game on a Tuesday and Wednesday.

That was done for both logistical reasons and to avoid conflicts.

Next year, the 2026 Winter Olympics will happen from Feb. 6 to 22. Holding the event Feb. 10-11 coincides with a break in the Olympics, providing great exposure, Howson said.

One thing not mentioned: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, is the date for next year’s Super Bowl, so moving from a Sunday-Monday schedule also avoided a conflict of fan interest with the NFL’s biggest game.

Snider, president of business operations for the IceHogs, said it also provides more travel time for players who often have a game the night before the All-Star break.

Who supported the bid?

Bidding for Rockford to host the game was a collaborative effort led by the IceHogs with support from ASM Rockford, GoRockford, the city and the county.

The effort also has financial support from a state tourism grant.

Last year, GoRockford won an $800,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity designed to help bring events to the city. That grant’s first major win was the Ironman 70.3-mile triathlon coming this summer, as well as 2026 and 2027.

Could Rockford host the All-Star game beyond 2026?

The IceHogs were initially preparing a bid to host the game in 2027 or ’28 before shifting their focus to next year’s AHL All-Star game.

While they haven’t decided whether to put a bid in for future years, there is some precedent for teams to host multiple games within a few years.

For example, Utica, New York, hosted the game in both 2015 and 2018.

“It’s certainly a possibility,” Snider said. “Let’s get through the first one and see if we’re ready to go again.”

This was the first time the IceHogs had bid to host an All-Star game, Snider said.

How to get tickets, more info

If you’re interested in being one of the first fans to secure tickets, you can visit THIS PAGE and register to have a sales account executive reach out.

To learn more about the event and its history, go to icehogs.com/asc26.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas