Advanced arena to house Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate

Article posted by Coliseum, February 24^th, 2020

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The professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in US – the Vegas Golden Knights – announced recently that they are planning to come up with an avant-garde arena which can fit in 6,000 spectators – which will be the new game day home for their future American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.

Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz said that the new facility will sit where the Henderson Pavilion is currently located at the intersection of Paseo Verde and Green Valley parkways.

Henderson Pavilion is an amphitheater in Henderson, Nevada, that is used primarily for musical performances.

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Plans for the AHL team were revealed by Henderson Mayor Debra March at Henderson’s annual State of the city address recently.

March said the arena joins several big projects for the city like the Raiders’ practice facility underway near St Rose Parkway in Las Vegas.

The Vegas Golden Knights purchased an AHL franchise recently with the intent of moving it to the Las Vegas area. The Golden Knights announced they had purchased the San Antonio Rampage on February 6 this year, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, with plans to relocate the team to the Las Vegas area (the team referred to it as Henderson/Las Vegas). They will begin play in the valley next season, subject to approval from the AHL Board of Governors.

The new AHL affiliate, which is reported to be named the Henderson Silver Knights, will play the 2020-21 seasons at Orleans Arena, the team confirmed recently. The Orleans Arena has seated just fewer than 8,000 fans for previous hockey games. The al fresco theater holds musicals, concerts, watch parties and other events.

Golden Knights owner Bill Foley and President Kerry Bubolz confirmed at the Henderson State of the City address that the newly-purchased American League affiliate will practice and be based at Lifeguard Arena — the facility built on Water Street in US — but on game days the affiliate will take part at the new arena to be built at Henderson Pavilion.

Foley made it clear that ‘Henderson’ will be a part of the team name. “The Golden Knights and the City of Henderson have demonstrated a commitment to bringing major professional sports to this great community and growing the game of hockey in our region. The city has been an outstanding partner on both of these ambitious projects and we look forward to our shared vision becoming a reality,” Foley said in a statement provided by the team.

“In partnership with the city, this facility will give our fans the same electric jolt of the excitement and experience that you see at the fortress for Golden Knights games on the Strip,” Bubolz exulted.

Media reports quoted Henderson Mayor Debra March as saying that half the arena will be built with taxpayers’ money. She said the city could pay up to $40 million.

Assistant City Manager Robert Herr informed that a timeline for completion of the arena has still not been finalized. City officials hinted that the arena would be ready for the team’s second season.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do on roadways and traffic and making improvements in the area as well,” Herr stated.

Henderson spokeswoman Kathleen Richards said the existing pavilion would not be torn down, but that much of what is already there would be enclosed. The new facility would also play host to cultural events such as plays and concerts the whole year round.

The arena was given the thumbs-up by city officials last year and is scheduled to be completed this Fall.

Bubolz said that the AHL team has more than 5,300 ticket deposits – “We’ll look to fill the house every single night.” Deposits are $50, and season tickets will start at $10 per game.

Present Vegas Golden Knights ticket members who place a deposit will gain priority access once seat selection begins. Details regarding seat selection and pricing will be announced at a later time.

The team also furnished the information that the arena, described as the AHL version of The Fortress, would enjoy futuristic accommodations.

Lifeguard Arena will wear an interior look akin to the City National Arena (Vegas Golden Knights headquarters) — two NHL-sized rinks with a restaurant providing a sweeping view of the ice.

Lifeguard Arena is still tentatively scheduled to be opened and running for business this July.

The sale of San Antonio’s franchise is contingent on AHL’s Board of Governors’ nod.

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