BBC: Boston Mayor Backs Belfast Bid for Major Ice Hockey Tournament

This would be a first. I wonder what kind of a crowd a college hockey game would draw in Belfast, Ireland? I can't imagine that the Boston Garden would want to just let another venue have the Bean Pot.

BBC.COM - Boston mayor Marty Walsh has given his backing to a bid to bring a major ice hockey tournament to Belfast in 2016.

While visiting the Odyssey Arena, Mayor Walsh offered his support to an Odyssey Trust initiative to bring the NCAA Beanpot tournament to the city.

The Beanpot, which features Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern, is one of the biggest tournaments in the ice hockey season.

Boston mayor backs Belfast for Beanpot college ice hockey tournament.

"In the 62 years since its inception it has become the official battle for Boston's hockey bragging rights and is widely known as the 'social event of the winter season'," said Walsh.

"In light of the recent Sister City twinning between Belfast and Boston, which is underpinned by a longstanding connection between the two cities through ice hockey, I think it would be wonderful to bring the Beanpot to Belfast and am lending my support to the campaign."