hobbytime
New Member, Must Send First
I thought I would post a quick recap for anyone who is travelling to Toronto for the 2024 NHL All-Star festivities or are in Toronto and are curious about this event. Here's a quick recap.
I got there for 2:00 PM today when it was suppose to open the doors. There was a long lineup. I lined up around 1:45 PM and I got in by 2:30 PM. The reason for such a long line up is unlike other conventions, they screen all big bags and knapsacks. That's the lineup on the left. The lineup on the right as you get closer to the doors is for people to enter who have no bags.
Inside you will see a bunch of exhibits. There is a Hockey Hall of Fame museum section when you immediately enter and swing left. You can take a picture with the Stanley Cup. See all the trophies. And at the back is the autograph desk. The signers today while I was there were Mike Krushelnyski, Steve Thomas and Carlton the Bear.
There was a red carpet event during the afternoon where the mascots and some of the all-stars appeared. It was hard to get an autograph and it's not my style to get one by just reaching out and see if you have any luck.
Then there's a bunch of corporate booths were you may have to sign up to get some rewards. The Pepsi and Cheetos ones were simply freebies once you enter their section.
There is a replica Leafs locker room and if you are there at the right time there is Leafs alumni who are signing autographs. I just happened to be there as Al Iafrate was signing some autographs. You get a premade postcard that they have ready for him to sign. Poor guy though, they spelled his name wrong.
The Upper Deck booth was fun. Quite a few games. There is a place where you can get your custom made NHL all-star game card. Make note, this is how you get the NHL all-star cards set. They are all digital and comprise of McDavid, Matthews, Suzuki, Pastrnak, Eichel, Bedard!, Quinn Hughes and Shesterkin. You have to download the QR code on the back of your custom card to take you to the link to get the NHL all-star set. Now if anyone knows how to turn these digital cards to physical on the Upper Deck site, please let me know. I've been trying the last bit.
The mini sports card section consisted of two dealers. Clouts n' Chara and Total Sports. Wish it was a bigger section for sports cards dealers because honestly they had a ton of ample space. It was filled with only hockey cards of course.
There are of course interactive games you can play with your kids if you are bringing them along. Plenty of things for the young ones to do. There's also a playstation section where you can play NHL 24.
The shop. So there are a ton of nice items for sure. But be warned, these things are marked up. Be prepared to spend cash. There's some nice autographed stuff and collectibles, but you really feel the fanatics force here in terms of the pricing. For example that all-star poster is $99.99 which is pretty high based off it being made on glossy photo paper. The cost of this thing was only probably a few bucks. Just have an open mind if you are in the shop, because you are gonna have to spend. Even pucks were between $19.99 to $29.99 if you want them with a puck holder.
Lastly the food. If you are local you know, you know? It's the same foods you would see at a Comic Con, Fan Expo, Auto Show, etc.... You are better off eating at a bunch of places just outside the Metro Convention Centre South. Just go to Bremner and York Street which is steps outside the Fan Fare. There is the Steam Whistle Brewery and the Rec Room which is across the street for more entertainment in the area. And there is also a St. Louis Bar and Grill just around the corner from the Rogers Centre, the baseball stadium.
All in all for $25 I spent on it, I stayed there for 3 hours with a break in between and had a lot of fun. There are plenty of seating areas to catch a break because you will be on your feet the whole entire time. You can grab a free Tim Horton's to take a quick break before you jump right back into the heat of it all.
I hope this recap helped give you an idea of what is at this event and what to expect. To anyone else who is thinking of also attending or is already going have fun there.
Here are the remaining days and hours:
Fri, Feb. 2: 1:00 - 10:00pm
Sat, Feb. 3: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sun, Feb. 4: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building
I got there for 2:00 PM today when it was suppose to open the doors. There was a long lineup. I lined up around 1:45 PM and I got in by 2:30 PM. The reason for such a long line up is unlike other conventions, they screen all big bags and knapsacks. That's the lineup on the left. The lineup on the right as you get closer to the doors is for people to enter who have no bags.
Inside you will see a bunch of exhibits. There is a Hockey Hall of Fame museum section when you immediately enter and swing left. You can take a picture with the Stanley Cup. See all the trophies. And at the back is the autograph desk. The signers today while I was there were Mike Krushelnyski, Steve Thomas and Carlton the Bear.
There was a red carpet event during the afternoon where the mascots and some of the all-stars appeared. It was hard to get an autograph and it's not my style to get one by just reaching out and see if you have any luck.
Then there's a bunch of corporate booths were you may have to sign up to get some rewards. The Pepsi and Cheetos ones were simply freebies once you enter their section.
There is a replica Leafs locker room and if you are there at the right time there is Leafs alumni who are signing autographs. I just happened to be there as Al Iafrate was signing some autographs. You get a premade postcard that they have ready for him to sign. Poor guy though, they spelled his name wrong.
The Upper Deck booth was fun. Quite a few games. There is a place where you can get your custom made NHL all-star game card. Make note, this is how you get the NHL all-star cards set. They are all digital and comprise of McDavid, Matthews, Suzuki, Pastrnak, Eichel, Bedard!, Quinn Hughes and Shesterkin. You have to download the QR code on the back of your custom card to take you to the link to get the NHL all-star set. Now if anyone knows how to turn these digital cards to physical on the Upper Deck site, please let me know. I've been trying the last bit.
The mini sports card section consisted of two dealers. Clouts n' Chara and Total Sports. Wish it was a bigger section for sports cards dealers because honestly they had a ton of ample space. It was filled with only hockey cards of course.
There are of course interactive games you can play with your kids if you are bringing them along. Plenty of things for the young ones to do. There's also a playstation section where you can play NHL 24.
The shop. So there are a ton of nice items for sure. But be warned, these things are marked up. Be prepared to spend cash. There's some nice autographed stuff and collectibles, but you really feel the fanatics force here in terms of the pricing. For example that all-star poster is $99.99 which is pretty high based off it being made on glossy photo paper. The cost of this thing was only probably a few bucks. Just have an open mind if you are in the shop, because you are gonna have to spend. Even pucks were between $19.99 to $29.99 if you want them with a puck holder.
Lastly the food. If you are local you know, you know? It's the same foods you would see at a Comic Con, Fan Expo, Auto Show, etc.... You are better off eating at a bunch of places just outside the Metro Convention Centre South. Just go to Bremner and York Street which is steps outside the Fan Fare. There is the Steam Whistle Brewery and the Rec Room which is across the street for more entertainment in the area. And there is also a St. Louis Bar and Grill just around the corner from the Rogers Centre, the baseball stadium.
All in all for $25 I spent on it, I stayed there for 3 hours with a break in between and had a lot of fun. There are plenty of seating areas to catch a break because you will be on your feet the whole entire time. You can grab a free Tim Horton's to take a quick break before you jump right back into the heat of it all.
I hope this recap helped give you an idea of what is at this event and what to expect. To anyone else who is thinking of also attending or is already going have fun there.
Here are the remaining days and hours:
Fri, Feb. 2: 1:00 - 10:00pm
Sat, Feb. 3: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sun, Feb. 4: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building
