The 2024 National Hockey League Draft is set to make history as the first televised event at Las Vegas’ futuristic Sphere, the league announced on Tuesday. The draft, scheduled for June 28-29, will mark the first time the NHL Draft is held in Las Vegas, coinciding with the San Jose Sharks expected to select Canadian forward Macklin Celebrini as the first overall pick.
Sphere, known for its immersive video technology and iconic wraparound interior LED screen, opened in September last year. It features an outdoor LED display that stands out in the Las Vegas skyline.
“NHL is proud to bring the first sports event and the first live television broadcast to Sphere,” said NHL Senior Executive Vice President Steve Mayer 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 draft will kick off with the opening round on the first day, followed by rounds two through seven on the second day. San Jose secured the right to select Celebrini after winning the NHL Draft Lottery, which included the 16 teams that did not qualify for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sharks, finishing last in the NHL standings, had the highest odds of winning the lottery at 18.5%.
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