The effort to bring the NHL to Las Vegas recently hit a significant milestone. Reports indicate that the group has surpassed their goal of 10,000 down payments on season tickets. The report states that the 10,000 figure is made up of individuals and small businesses and not any of the major businesses or casinos in the area. Those larger corporations are now the new target of Bill Foley and company.
Via ESPN:
The group will continue to take down payments on season tickets from individuals even as they move into discussions with these larger entities, many of whom have already reached out to Foley and his group, he said. It’s possible that along with the sale of suites, which are at about 750 seats, the ownership group that includes Foley and the Maloof family, former owners of the Palms casino and resort in Las Vegas and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, could top the 13,000 mark for season-ticket deposits.
In other words, the ticket drive has been a pretty big success. One of the criticisms was that a team in Vegas wouldn’t be able to maintain a consistent fanbase as the games would be filled with people who received tickets as a promotion or as a comp from a casino. The proposed Vegas team would effectively lack the home ice advantage. This may not be the case if the description of the individuals who made the 10,000 deposits is accurate.
You can debate hockey in Vegas until you’re blue in the face, but all signs are pointing to the NHL expanding out in the desert.