It's been announced.

I am a skeptic regarding its success however.

 

Don't see how it can fail. The casinos will buy up the big suites and rink side season tickets.

 

Someone actually put up the $500M expansion fee? How many current franchises are worth more than that now?

 

I would... it's a damn gold mine... AND it's a damn gold mine in Vegas.

 

Can someone with supreme powers add a poll to this thread (I am curious) ?

The question: Would you go to an NHL Game in Las Vegas ?

The options to consider (I hope I have the most notable scenarios covered):

No and I am an out of towner.
No and I live in Las Vegas.
Yes, if any teams playing I would pay out of pocket to see it.
Yes but only if one of my "favorite" teams were playing would I pay out of pocket to go see it.
Yes if one of my "favorite" team was playing and it was comped to a quality seat commensurate with my betting level.
Yes, if any team was playing and the seats were comped to a quality seat commensurate with my betting level.

 

I'm not a big hockey fan, but I would probably catch a game once or twice if the prices weren't too bad. If the stadium was offstrip, the chances of me going would have been 0%.

 

I think there are big risks having a pro sports team in Vegas for all the well-documented reasons: high tourist population, questions over local support/season ticket holders ... when you have a big recession again, do the casinos pull back their purchases, etc. But big risk, big reward in Vegas (shocker). I think the NHL realizes the NFL and NBA have been kicking the tires around Vegas for a while now, and there is a certain boost/cache/benefit to being the first to take the plunge. That's part of what they're banking on. Loyalty from being first. I hope it works out. Vegas with an NHL, NBA, and NFL teams? Would be great.

 

According to the latest census data, 2.2 million people live in the Las Vegas area. It is the largest metropolitan area without a major sports team. I say this team will be highly successful at the gate and the NFL in the form of the Oakland Raiders will be following shortly.

 

Amazing the polarity of opinions on the likely success of this venture. It seems for every positive argument there's one from the other column that knocks it back. Though if Foley's numbers on season-ticket sales actually come through, that does help. And apparently the Black Knights thing is off the table, at least for now and if only a fake by Foley.

 

I think someone forgot that Vegas isn't in Canada. Not sure how many people are going to be interested in seeing hockey in Vegas. I'm certainly not interested, and I see absolutely no way to justify a $500M+ investment in such a team. If they manage to nab an NFL team, that would be far more exciting, but I don't see that actually happening.

When I start getting offers for tickets to these games from casinos, they're headed right to the same place where the Nascar ticket offers go: the trash lol.