(Reuters) – The 2024 National Hockey League Draft will be held in Las Vegas at Sphere in what will be the first televised event from the futuristic venue, the league announced on Tuesday.
The NHL Draft, which has never been held in Las Vegas before, will take place June 28-29 when the San Jose Sharks are widely expected to select Canadian forward Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick.
The globe-like Sphere opened last September and is renowned for its immersive video technology while boasting a wraparound interior LED screen and outdoor LED display that stands out amidst the Las Vegas skyline.
“The NHL is proud to bring the first sports event and the first live television broadcast to Sphere,” NHL Senior Executive Vice President Steve Mayer said in a news release.
“Together with the amazing team at Sphere, we plan to deliver an NHL Draft like no other, introducing the bright future of hockey in an innovative and exhilarating setting.”
The first day of the draft will consist of the opening round followed by rounds two-seven on the second day.
San Jose earned the right to select Celebrini by winning the NHL Draft Lottery on Tuesday that consisted of the 16 teams that failed to qualify for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Sharks had the best odds of winning the lottery at 18.5% after finishing last in the NHL standings.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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