The 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend is bound for Tampa Bay.

In a press conference on Thursday afternoon inside AMALIE Arena's Firestick Grill, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan and Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, formally addressed the prestegious event, which will be held Jan. 26 through 28 in Tampa.

It will be the second time in franchise history the Lightning has hosted the All-Star Game, and first since 1999 when AMALIE Arena was known as the Ice Palace.

Here is a look at Thursday's event through the lens of Lightning photographer Scott Audette.