Some folks have taken issue with the fact the game presentation is less than traditional, but for the ticket-buying public such a notion is irrelevant. The Golden Knights operated at 104 percent capacity during the regular season and are currently among the toughest tickets in sport. Upper bowl tickets were starting at $714 on StubHub on Wednesday morning.
Some have suggested there should be a worry about raised expectations in the Vegas market. Will Vegas fans expect a Stanley Cup run every season? goes the thinking.
Perhaps there is a danger in this, although it remains an unknown and only a theory at this point. What is clear is the Golden Knights are becoming entrenched in Nevada and building a fan base which is passionate about its team and hockey.
"The fans have been unbelievable and that's why we are where we are now because every night we play in front of them," said Golden Knights center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. "We just try to give back whatever they are giving to us and it's worked the right way. I think its good for hockey that it's a brand-new town, it's a known town, but actually it has shown much more of this side of town that nobody knows about. Nobody knew that so many people that come from Vegas, and actually have nothing to do with the Strip. It's cool to have the town get known a little bit more for more than just one thing and it's fun to see."
Winger Ryan Reaves grew up in Winnipeg and has played in St. Louis and Pittsburgh in the NHL. He believes the Vegas approach to game presentation should grow.
"I think that's how the NHL needs to go. I think every team around the league is going to be looking at this team and just looking at what they do before games, during intermission, and during the game," said Reaves. "I think they are going to start copying. I think it's the best atmosphere in the league. I came out for warmups Monday and I was looking at the pucks, so I don't fall down, and I look up in the stands and everybody is there including the Cirque Du Soleil folks, Lil Jon and then Michael Buffer. It's just a fun place to play. It's supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be entertaining. People pay top dollar - why shouldn't they have a blast?"
