Ahead of Saturday’s outdoor “winter classic” on Great Bear Lake to mark the 200th anniversary of Délı̨nę’s claim as hockey’s birthplace, a star-studded takes place in Yellowknife on Friday, March 20.
A lengthy list of NHL alumni will be there according to the event’s promoters, alongside Canadian music hall of famer Tom Cochrane.
On Tuesday, we asked the organizers how you get a ticket for the gala.
The answer? Email them and be prepared to pay around $1,000 to get in.
A single ticket is $1,000. Half tables of four are $4,000 and a full table of eight is $7,500. (Organizers said tax receipts are provided for all table and seat purchases.)
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Sponsorship tiers start at $10,000 and go all the way up to $250,000 if you want to be a title sponsor of the all-star game.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime evening celebrating Délı̨nę, NWT as the birthplace of hockey, 200 years after Sir John Franklin’s men first played the game on the ice of Great Bear Lake,” organizers stated by email.
British naval officer Franklin and members of his expedition wrote letters and journals as they wintered on Great Bear Lake in 1825. In one letter, Franklin described the men taking part in “the game of hockey, played on the ice,” which has since formed the foundation of a claim that the lake was the sport’s birthplace. The true home of hockey remains the subject of fierce debate, with multiple communities arguing they have a similar connection.
“The gala brings together NHL legends, extraordinary live music, and an unforgettable night honouring one of Canada’s most remarkable stories,” the organizers’ email continued.
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According to them, a ticket gets you entry to a VIP cocktail reception at 5pm on Friday, a welcome by Délįnę Got’įnę Government leader Ɂek’wahtı̨dǝ́ Danny Gaudet, celebrity guest interviews, a live auction, and a performance by Cochrane, NWT musician Leela Gilday and others.
You can call 604-812-9817 or 604-282-3482 for more information.
More: Délı̨nę plans star-studded ‘200th anniversary’ outdoor hockey game
The event promoter is DGG Sports and Entertainment Inc, a company registered in the NWT last month. (While the initials DGG are those of the Délįnę Got’įnę Government, the two directors each list British Columbia addresses.) Whether more such events are planned isn’t yet clear.
The schedule for this week’s events is available online.
