The NHL’s board of governors approved expanding to Las Vegas, making the franchise the 31st team in the league.
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The NHL is placing their bets on Vegas.
“As a passionate Washington Capitals fan and someone who makes many business trips to Las Vegas every winter, I’m excited about the chance to catch a few road games when the Caps visit Nevada”.
Confirmation of the new franchise comes after an unnamed source said earlier this month that a move into Vegas was a “done deal”, provided team investors could stump up the US$500 million expansion fee.
Being in an unusual location doesn’t spell doom after the novelty and initial buzz wear off. As Bettman noted in remarking on the 115-degree temperature, “the prospects of Las Vegas hosting an outdoor game aren’t too favorable at the moment”. I love Black Knights, Foley said. It’s the best of the leagues, it’s a legendary league. “My obligation is to hold this team in trust of the community”. “I’m the owner, but I do it on behalf of the community”.
Bettman cited fluctuation of the Canadian dollar and the league’s geographic imbalance as reasons for deferring Quebec City’s application. But the bond between the city and the National Hockey League has been growing for many years, as ESPN reports. The former city has been hungering for some major league attention for decades while the latter city has never really gotten over losing their Nordiques to Colorado in 1995.
Reactions from public officials and reactions on social media to announcement about hockey team in Las Vegas. Foley and company have to sell the city on Las Vegas Hockey – whatever form that takes. Current clubs will be permitted to protect seven forward, three defenseman and one goalie; or eight skaters and one goaltender. More than 14,000 people have put down season ticket deposits, a factor Bettman said helped Las Vegas’ expansion bid.
In one of the worst kept secrets in sport, the league’s 30 team owners voted to allow the addition of the new franchise during their board of governors meeting in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The yet-to-be-named team will play at the new T-Mobile Arena, which will have 17,368 seats for hockey. My choice of course would be Las Vegas Wayne Newtons. “The worldwide recognition that this city has, the fact that it spotlights entertainment, excitement and fun that is perhaps unique in the world, we viewed as an opportunity”.
“I can not overstate the importance that the season ticket drive had. The success that it had really got everybody’s attention”. Bettman said fans likely will be able to bet on games played in the city, but “we don’t worry about the integrity of our game”. I appreciate his persistence and his patience in pursuit of a franchise, Bettman said.
With a metro area of more than 2.2 million inhabitants, Las Vegas is the largest city in America without a major professional sports franchise.
If you know Bill, he is the master of juggling as many things as he needs to and he’s done that for years, Park said.
Vegas is in the middle of the Mojave Desert, but it has grown as a hockey town over the past 20 years since local youngsters like Jason Zucker, now with the Minnesota Wild, had to practise on one of the three rinks in town. Las Vegas must select one player from each of the 30 teams. But for now he’s just happy Las Vegas has a team to call its own.
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“We want everyone to be a fan”, Foley said. “We have several alternatives and several different ideas”.
