If a sport like MMA, which, when it first was introduced into the scene in Las Vegas, was considered to be a fringe sport for savages, can be a success, it can certainly be argued that an NHL team in the Sin City could be as successful as some of the teams that already exist in non-traditional hockey towns. The NHL executive committee was reportedly unanimous in its decision to expand, but it still must pass a vote at the Board of Governors meeting on June 22. The AP, basing its report on an unnamed league source, said the expansion fee would be $500 million and that the team, expected to be named the Black Knights, would not begin play until the 2017-18 season. The NHL, now 30 teams strong, last expanded in 2000, when Minnesota got back a team after its North Stars moved to Dallas, and when Columbus, Ohio, joined the league.
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The team would also be the first major sports franchise in Las Vegas. It would be the NHL’s 31st team.
With ownership groups in Las Vegas and Quebec City making expansion bids, there was speculation if one of the cities was left out, the ownership group there might look to buy the controlling interest in the Hurricanes from owner Peter Karmanos Jr. and seek a relocation.
The NHL is ready to roll the dice on Las Vegas. Las Vegas has been waiting for this for decades.
And considering the number of seemingly-giddy residents I spoke to regarding the Raiders coming to Vegas and the seemingly booming downtown, set to break ground on four new casinos AND a new 70,000-seat stadium set to share house both the Raiders and UNLV, and the prospect of the most powerful league in American sports playing in Vegas is all but immenient.
“The NHL’s decision is the latest signal that professional sports leagues are increasingly comfortable with legal, regulated sports betting”. David Beckham met with the group in April, and the English soccer superstar suggested Vegas would be a candidate for an MLS team with that new field.
Now that it is official that the NHL will be bringing a team to Vegas, there are conflicted feelings within the media on how successful a Vegas hockey franchise can be.
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Although it appears that they won’t do it in Black Knight Financial Services Arena. The copyright listed on the website is “Hockey Vision Las Vegas”, but the team’s contact information is listed as “Black Knight Sports & Entertainment”.
