Finding Vegas: Golden Knights Fans Open Up About Team

The Las Vegas Golden Knights are poised to make a splash when they come into the NHL. Last time, we discussed how seriously the NHL would take the newest franchise.

Of course, for a team to be successful, they need an excellent venue, a big following and more importantly, fans to buy tickets. For Las Vegas, it appears that the team has already gathered quite the fanbase, and it hasn’t played a single game yet.

The Golden Knights Twitter and Facebook pages both have over 75,000 followers. There are other groups on Facebook too, specifically for Las Vegas hockey fans, that aim to help those fans connect and share information about the up-and-coming franchise.

Outside of their digital following, Las Vegas already many fans already physically committed. The Golden Knights already had over 14,000 committed season ticket holders, and that was before the team was added to the NHL’s expansion plans.

Through the Eyes of the Fans

Though these numbers are excellent, they cannot speak on behalf of the Golden Knights fans, and what the team truly means to them. We talked to a few Golden Knights fans about the team, and what it feels like to finally have an NHL team in Nevada.

Ely Prussin, a Nevada resident, and admin for a Golden Knights fans Facebook group, has lived in the state for the past 20 years. He was originally from New Jersey, but after he moved, he no longer lived somewhere with major sports teams.

“Most people who live in Las Vegas have moved here from another city that has professional sports teams, so to have one to call our own is very exciting,” Prussin said. “We had minor league hockey here, and those games were well-attended and very entertaining. I think the NHL is the perfect sport to get the ball rolling here in Las Vegas.”

Prussin believes the team’s success will be based heavily off how they do with the expansion draft, where general manager George McPhee will pick one player from each franchise. After that, the team will likely be active in free agency.

According to Prussin, the best part about the franchise is seeing it come to life throughout the state of Nevada.

“I’m just really happy we have a team that is born in Las Vegas and we can see it as it’s being built from the ground up,” Prussin said. “It’s our franchise and our fanbase. Seeing Las Vegas supporting this franchise is what I look forward to.”

David Rolfes, already a passionate fan, knows that Vegas hockey is not a new idea. The city hosted a minor league hockey team and semi-pro teams in the 70s. However, like Prussin, he is excited that the city finally has a team to call its own.

“Las Vegas will now be known as a city that represents,” Rolfes said. “Believe it or not, Las Vegas has a huge following with the game of hockey.”

Rolfes also believes that this will be a place where teams want to play. Despite beliefs about hockey in the desert, Vegas is an excellent vacation spot and carries the same appeal as places like New York and Montreal. Combining that aspect, as well as the appeal and massive population of Vegas, the team should have no problem filling seats.

It’s easy to see the excitement of fans in Vegas thirsty for hockey in the desert. The Knights already have a huge fanbase, and it is one so big that it will greatly reflect how well the team does coming into the NHL. The Golden Knights will continue to prove their worth, and at the same time, fans will wait to see how this new franchise turns out.

With Reid Duke already on board, the Golden Knights are gearing up to take the NHL by storm. They’re taking the steps, and making their mark already, without even touching the ice at T-Mobile arena.