Philadelphia to stage 2002 All-Star game

Making up for last season's lockout-canceled game, the National Basketball Association awarded the 2002 All-Star game to Philadelphia on Monday.

Making up for last season's lockout-canceled game, the National Basketball Association awarded the 2002 All-Star game to Philadelphia on Monday.

"We said we'd be back to announce that it'd be held here. And we're happy to be able to do that," said Russ Granik, the NBA's deputy commissioner.

The game will be played February 10, 2002, at the First Union Center. Philadelphia last had the All-Star game in 1976, and also was the site of the 1960 and 1970 games.

"When we had to cancel the game David said he would bring back the game as soon as possible. And he kept good on his word," Philadelphia Mayor Edward G. Rendell said.

San Francisco is the site of this season's game, and Washington will host the 2001 game.

The game is expected to bring about $20 million in business to the region. Before the 1999 game was canceled, 5,300 hotel rooms had been booked.

The All-Star game caps a series of high-profile events scheduled in Philadelphia during Rendell's tenure. Also upcoming at the First Union Center is the NCAA Women's Final Four this spring, the Republican National Convention this summer, and the NCAA Men's East regional finals in 2001.

"For a city that's trying to be one of the premier destination cities in the nation, more than just the short-run economic impact, it's a great opportunity to show the city off," Rendell said.