If Orlando Builds It, the All-Star Game Will Come

So Las Vegas is over, and we already know that New Orleans is on tap for the All-Star Weekend in 2008. But what about beyond that? Nothing is settled yet, but if the Magic can convince the city of Orlando to help build them a new arena, the game might return to central Florida. From the Orlando Sentinel:

NBA Commissioner David Stern reiterated to the Sentinel after his media session Saturday that Orlando would be guaranteed to play host to an all-star game once they build a new arena.

"Yes," Stern said. "Yes. That's my answer."

Stern promised Orlando an all-star game in a video message that was presented to both city and county officials last September and didn't back off that stance.

He seemed even more committed and added that he was "encouraged" with the latest news he's heard in negotiations.

Despite the fact Stern is "encouraged," the Magic and the city of Orlando are still at least $100 million apart in their negotiations, though things have progressed to the point that it's likely to going to get down sooner or later.

The last time the city of Orlando hosted an NBA All-Star Game was back in 1992, a game memorable for being Magic Johnson's last hurrah (or at least his first last hurrah, before he tried making a comeback in 1996). Magic wasn't originally supposed to start the game, but everyone's favorite all-around good guy Tim Hardaway stepped aside to let Magic take his spot in the starting lineup. Magic didn't just play, he played exceptionally well with a game-high 25 points and nine assists in 29 minutes en route to the MVP award.