"The most disappointing season in Blue Jackets history was interrupted yesterday by a stunning jolt of good news.

The 2013 NHL All-Star Game was awarded to the Jackets and will take place on Jan.?27 at Nationwide Arena. It's a marquee event that will rival golf's U.S. Open (1927) and Ryder Cup (1931, '87), the U.S.-Mexico World Cup soccer qualifiers and the NCAA men's basketball tournament as the biggest sports events in central Ohio.

"We're going to go have a big party in a place that can host it well," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "The (2007) draft gave me a taste of what you can do in Columbus."

For the Blue Jackets — last in the NHL and without an All-Star for today's game in Ottawa — the announcement couldn't have come at a better time. Bettman's announcement came 2½ hours before a crowd of roughly 250 gathered on the steps of Nationwide Arena to protest the club's management.

"Obviously, we've struggled on the competitive side of the business, and we're all aware of that and frustrated by it," Blue Jackets president Mike Priest said. "This is a great opportunity to celebrate hockey in Columbus and to showcase Columbus to the hockey community once again.

"We're very excited about it. We know the hockey fans in Columbus will embrace this, and we're giving them an opportunity to have a first-hand celebration with the league's best and brightest stars."

Bettman referred to the protest as a "demonstration of passion" and he urged local fans to keep the faith.

"As frustrated as anybody who follows the team may be, their level of frustration doesn't reach Mike's or John's," he said, referring to Priest and majority owner John P. McConnell. "If you think their idea of a good time or their plan is to have a team that's less than competitive, you don't understand them. They're very frustrated and they know there's work to be done.

"I understand when fans get disappointed. But if you take a deep breath and a step back … it can turn around very quickly.""