[Rumour] Vegas names: [Desert/Golden/Silver] Knights

[GioforPM]

Sorry about that - I fixed it.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by ThisIsAnOutrage

Golden Knights, Silver Knights, Desert Knights.... it's all so drab. They should have gone with the Las Vegas Joe Pescies. At least that would have been amusing.

Okay I'll bite.
Amusing how?
Amusing like a clown?
Are they there to make you laugh?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Foley confirms the name will be one of Desert, Silver, or Goldent Knights:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl-las...-sh&soc_trk=tw

Doesn't Golden Knights have ties to the US Army? If I am remembering correctly, I would guess that is the name.

[JerryUnderscore]

The team should not in anyway be called the "desert" anythings. It's bad enough that Bettman is trying to force hockey to work in the desert, we don't need the constant reminder when the team is playing on a random February night in Winnipeg.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

The team should not in anyway be called the "desert" anythings. It's bad enough that Bettman is trying to force hockey to work in the desert, we don't need the constant reminder when the team is playing on a random February night in Winnipeg.

This sentiment is ridiculous to me. The only way to grow the game is to take risks and go places that might be seen as silly. For every Atlanta and Arizona in the league there's a Tampa Bay, Nashville, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose that has worked. Hockey can work in non-traditional markets and in my opinion it's absurd to write off Las Vegas as a failure before they've even been given a chance.

Forget Canada, we have enough teams, let's grow the best game on earth. Let's go to new places and create new fans.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

This sentiment is ridiculous to me. The only way to grow the game is to take risks and go places that might be seen as silly. For every Atlanta and Arizona in the league there's a Tampa Bay, Nashville, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose that has worked. Hockey can work in non-traditional markets and in my opinion it's absurd to write off Las Vegas as a failure before they've even been given a chance.

Forget Canada, we have enough teams, let's grow the best game on earth. Let's go to new places and create new fans.

Sure, I'll give Vegas a shot; I'm dubious, but I'll try to keep an open mind.

However hockey in Phoenix is a failed experiment that Bettman is continuing to try to make work. The team went bankrupt and was owned by the league.

I would put the Panthers in the same spot. They haven't gone bankrupt but they've never been able to climb out of the bottom of the league in terms of attendance or profitability.

Meanwhile, Quebec could easily make a team work again (at least according to this study). Even places like Seattle, Milwaukee or Salt Lake City would be better options for hockey than deep southern cities.

I'm not suggesting the NHL adopt a "don't take risks" policy. You absolutely have to try to grow the game. But financially there have got to be better, more plausible options than the desert.

[speede5]

Maybe the fact that there are a few other cities ready for a team makes this a low risk scenario? No one wants to move a team but knowing that there are backups available means you could have a new franchise on a short leash.

I think they will do fine and be a solid middle of the league franchise. Hockey fans now have one more thing to do in Vegas.

Silver Knights sounds like the winner to me, hope they can design a uniform that doesn't scream LA Kings 3rd jersey.

[troutman]

So, I got to see the new arena last week for a Lakers-Kings exhibition game.

Very nice venue, right beside the Monte Carlo. The Stones are there this week for two shows. The upper bowl is very steep, but then you are not far from the court. I can see tons of Canadians going down for games and filling the building.

[Buff]

The corners look like they can be awkward for hockey configuration. Although, upon googling some images, it doesn't look too bad. Nothing like what the NYI arena dishes out.

[Par]

Originally Posted by Buff

The corners look like they can be awkward for hockey configuration.

Have you seen the arena with the ice on it? If not, please do so.

[Spinach]

I've always had a hard time understanding how adding teams in markets where hockey is at best an afterthought is supposed to benefit established fans like us.
"Growing the game" in non-traditional markets might be good for the owners, but how does that affect the fans? Sure, there might be a few more draftable players from the southern States. The talent pool isn't so thin that we're desperate for that, though; and adding teams further dilutes it.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Par

Have you seen the arena with the ice on it? If not, please do so.

Did you read my post?

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Spinach

I've always had a hard time understanding how adding teams in markets where hockey is at best an afterthought is supposed to benefit established fans like us.
"Growing the game" in non-traditional markets might be good for the owners, but how does that affect the fans? Sure, there might be a few more draftable players from the southern States. The talent pool isn't so thin that we're desperate for that, though; and adding teams further dilutes it.

You're right. We should go back to 6 teams.

It only affects the "established fans" that choose to be irrationally angry about it. The goal of expansion is to attract new fans, not the ones that are already there.

The AHL is really good hockey. Diluting the talent pool should be of no concern to anyone. I say bring on Vegas!

[gilligans_off]

No one though bringing hockey to the desert would work or gow the game, but just look at where the last years first overall came from. Not to mention our own pick was from Scottsdale himself

[Flames4LifeFLA]

Originally Posted by troutman

So, I got to see the new arena last week for a Lakers-Kings exhibition game.

Very nice venue, right beside the Monte Carlo. The Stones are there this week for two shows. The upper bowl is very steep, but then you are not far from the court. I can see tons of Canadians going down for games and filling the building.

I was down there a week prior to the LA-Sacramento hoops game, for Frozen Fury at the new arena (Kings-Stars, Kings-Avalanche). I wanted to see the new arena myself, as the last time I was in Vegas it was still being completed.

There is a really nice area that they've built called The Park, which stretches from the Strip up to the arena and runs between Monte Carlo and New York, New York. They did an excellent job on this... the area is full of bars and gets ton of foot traffic; Kings fans were crawling in these places pre-game and post-game, so many options for an adult beverage/food.

The arena itself is a jewel, they did a great job and it's a total hockey barn. Place was really rocking, there was a definite buzz both Friday and Saturday night. Of course there are some things they'll need to work on, but the arena is a major-league venue and completely ready for NHL events.

I do have numerous photos, but they are on my other computer. If anyone wants these posted to see, I can do so.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Flames4LifeFLA

I was down there a week prior to the LA-Sacramento hoops game, for Frozen Fury at the new arena (Kings-Stars, Kings-Avalanche). I wanted to see the new arena myself, as the last time I was in Vegas it was still being completed.

There is a really nice area that they've built called The Park, which stretches from the Strip up to the arena and runs between Monte Carlo and New York, New York. They did an excellent job on this... the area is full of bars and gets ton of foot traffic; Kings fans were crawling in these places pre-game and post-game, so many options for an adult beverage/food.

The arena itself is a jewel, they did a great job and it's a total hockey barn. Place was really rocking, there was a definite buzz both Friday and Saturday night. Of course there are some things they'll need to work on, but the arena is a major-league venue and completely ready for NHL events.

I do have numerous photos, but they are on my other computer. If anyone wants these posted to see, I can do so.

Would love to see some photos of it as an ice rink!

[troutman]

Yes, The Park is nice - there are plenty of games set up in the plaza like ping pong, shuffleboard and giant Jenga. There was a 3 on 3 basketball tournament going on. Plenty of police directing traffic.

We enjoyed the fried chicken and waffles at Bruxie. The Laker Girls were hanging out around there too.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by smiggy77

Would love to see some photos of it as an ice rink!

https://twitter.com/VegasHockeyNHL

They have a bunch of pictures of the arena with ice

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by troutman

Yes, The Park is nice - there are plenty of games set up in the plaza like ping pong, shuffleboard and giant Jenga. There was a 3 on 3 basketball tournament going on. Plenty of police directing traffic.

We enjoyed the fried chicken and waffles at Bruxie. The Laker Girls were hanging out around there too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xVYOnCdv_Y

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by gilligans_off

No one though bringing hockey to the desert would work or gow the game, but just look at where the last years first overall came from. Not to mention our own pick was from Scottsdale himself

Matthew Tkachuk is the son of an NHLer. He could just as easily have been from St. Louis or Winnipeg.

Originally Posted by N-E-B

You're right. We should go back to 6 teams.

It only affects the "established fans" that choose to be irrationally angry about it. The goal of expansion is to attract new fans, not the ones that are already there.

The AHL is really good hockey. Diluting the talent pool should be of no concern to anyone. I say bring on Vegas!

Nice strawman argument. Who said anything about going back to six teams?

Again, how does "attracting new fans" benefit those of us who already love the game? Why should we care?