Kid Rock is NHL's peculiar choice to headline All-Star Game concert
Kid Rock will headline the festivities at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game in Tampa Bay.
The southern rocker will perform at Amalie Arena during the second intermission — televised on NBC as part of their All-Star Game coverage — and the league will name the rest of the day’s entertainment slate as the weekend draws closer.
Kid Rock’s “American Rock n Roll Tour 2018,” kicks off one week before the All-Star Game. He’s sold over 26 million albums to date, yet the early reaction to the NHL’s choice of headliner for its marque promotional event has been overwhelmingly disapproving.
When you find out Kid Rock is playing the Alll-Star Game pic.twitter.com/vMDqnK4x8R
— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) January 17, 2018
Nothing unites Lightning fans like our common disgust at Kid Rock coming to Tampa for the ASG
— Santi (@PalatMyJohnson) January 17, 2018
Did the NHL get turned down by 10,000 more prominent musicians of was Kid Rock a first choice? Either way, amazing.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) January 16, 2018
Kid Rock will headline this year's NHL All-Star Game. While they're at it, next year the NHL should host its All-Star festivities in the Syrian desert & broadcast the game at 3am in North America. This would be on the same logic-par as hiring Kid Rock to perform at an NHL event.
— Brian Foran (@BForanNHL) January 17, 2018
Reminder: For a decade, Kid Rock displayed confederate flags at his concerts.
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) January 17, 2018
Kid Rock, for reasons passing understanding, will headline the NHL All-Star Game. Maybe I'm extrapolating from my own bubble, but I don't think Kid Rock aligns with most hockey fans' tastes, musically and otherwise.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 17, 2018
I guess 20 years after the NHL asked him to play the All-Star Game, Kid Rock finally accepted and they felt bad telling him they were no longer interested.
— Luke DeCock (@LukeDeCock) January 17, 2018
NHL ☎️ Kid Rock’s Agent
Agt: Hello?
NHL: Hello we would like to have Kid Rock perform at our All-Star game.
Agt: ummmm Are you sure?
NHL: Yep
Agt: You do know he openly supports Trump right?
NHL: Yep
Agt: You know you will be horribly ridiculed on social media right?
NHL: Yep— Kevin McIntosh (@theeKMc) January 17, 2018
At least those upset with the NHL’s decision will get to kick off the weekend in contrasting musical fashion, as Flo Rida will put on a show on Saturday during the Skills Competition, and will perform again later at a private league party. Pop-rock group Fitz and the Tantrums will headline a free concert on Friday January 26.
Check out the rosters for the 2018 All Star Game (and who got snubbed) here.