Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Win Cements Las Vegas As A Big-Time Sports City

The Vegas Golden Knights, in just their sixth season in the NHL, won the league’s championship, completing a 4-1 series victory over the Cinderella Florida Panthers. Vegas’ meteoric rise to the top of hockey has surprised the sports world, but it’s exactly what owner Bill Foley intended when he plunked down the $500 million expansion fee in 2016. It’s a remarkable accomplishment for an expansion team in any sport, but especially for an ice hockey team in a desert city that had, until recently, also been a desert for professional team sports. On Golden Knights game days, MGM properties surrounding the team’s home, T-Mobile Arena, are crowded with customers. The Golden Knights have been contenders since their first season. They quickly accumulated a fierce fanbase while making it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 2018, losing to the Washington Capitals. In both the championships, the Golden Knights made the conference finals twice and missed the playoffs only once. The team often sells out its home games, drawing locals and tourists alike. The city dons black and gold during hockey season. The community spirit surrounding the NHL team is felt throughout the city’s sports scene. For now, though, Las Vegas is firmly enamored with the Golden Knights, a pride that compels locals to brave the dreaded Strip tourists and traffic to support their team. And now the Knights are the kings of hockey.