Why is Going to a Vegas Golden Knights Hockey Game So Different?

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4 days ago

This is a guide for making the most of your Golden Knights hockey game experience in Las Vegas. These tips are for every fan, but mainly for first-time attendees. There is much more to a Golden Knights game than just hockey.

Hockey in the desert?

Hockey will never work in Las Vegas with so many other things to do? That is what many people thought, but were proven wrong. The Golden Knights were the first major sports franchise to represent Las Vegas, and the team brought the city together with a strong loyal fan base right from the start.

During the Golden Knights 2018-19 inaugural season, they came within two games of winning the Stanley Cup. In 2023, they won their first Stanley Cup championship.

Why attend a Golden Knights game?

If you are a hockey fan, this is a no brainer. It is NHL hockey played in a great arena, and if your favorite team happens to be in town, it is even better.

If you are not necessarily a hockey fan, but want to watch a game you will be in for a treat. A Golden Knights game is more of an event than just a hockey game. You can watch or join the pregame parade, see a fantastic pregame show with special effects, explore the arena and more.

Parade at The Park

The fun starts about an hour before the game at the Brooklyn Bridge outside New York-New York Hotel & Casino. They have a parade, lead by the Vegas Golden Knights Ice Crew and includes the Drum Line, Cheer Squad, Chance (the mascot) and others. The parade goes through The Park and concludes at the Toshiba Plaza stage. Fans can march with the parade or just watch.

Pregame Skate/Warmups

The pregame skate takes place approximately 30-minutes before the start of the game. Both teams will hit the ice doing stretches, sprints, and drills to get their muscles warm and blood flowing. You will be able to see your favorite players.

Pregame Show

Las Vegas is known for its over the top performances all over the city and it also takes place on the ice before every home Golden Knights game. Be sure to be in your seat 15-20 minutes before the start of the game to watch an elaborate show to get the fans hyped up.

The pregame show is different depending on the opponent, and usually lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Shows have included a Golden Knight wielding a medieval sword fighting their opponent to special-effect videos being displayed on the surface of the ice.

During the inaugural season, these pregame shows upset many opposing teams. The NHL looked into it and said they were fine with them. Since then, the shows have become more elaborate and if playing a tough team, the show is usually longer and more intense.

Chance (the Mascot) & National Anthem(s)

Chance is the mascot for the Vegas Golden Knights, and is modeled after the Gila monster (lizard) that can be found in Red Rock Canyon. He was given his name because Las Vegas took a chance on ice hockey in the desert, even though some didn’t think the sport would be popular with locals.

Las Vegas native Carnell Johnson is nicknamed “Golden Pipes” for his signature style of belting out the US National Anthem before Golden Knights home games. Before he was singing in front of thousands of hockey fans, Johnson was making an impression on Las Vegas visitors as a gondolier at The Venetian Resort & Casino.

Lynnae Meyers, sings the Canadian National Anthem at Golden Knights games and fills in for Johnson when he’s unavailable.

Siren in The Fortress

The Vegas Golden Knights use a cherry-red siren to energize the crowd at T-Mobile Arena before each period of the game. The siren is cranked in front of the Castle on the upper level by: International Celebrities (1st period), Season Ticket-Holders (2nd period) and Local Community Figures/Entertainers (3rd period).

Some notable people that have cranked the siren have included, Mark Wahlberg, Wayne Newton, Usher, Shania Twain, Criss Angel, 50 Cent, Lil Jon, Back Street Boys, UFC fighters, Raiders players and many more.

The Game

Actual game play lasts 60-minutes, but with intermissions and timeouts a typical game lasts about two and a half hours. During the game, expect a very lively environment with passionate fans. Almost every seat has great sightlines so you will feel close to the action.

Unlike other NHL games, you will hear music from a DJ and not a boring organ. After every Golden Knights goal they will blast the song ‘Vegas Lights’ by Panic! At The Disco.

Tickets, Concessions and More

AXS is the official ticket seller for T-Mobile Arena and the Vegas Golden Knights. Single game tickets usually range from $40 to $300+, depending on the game. Some games can be much higher. Resale tickets can be purchased with AXS, Ticketmaster, StubHub, TickPick, etc.

T-Mobile Arena is cashless and only accepts debit cards, credit cards, and mobile payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Like other arenas and stadiums, food and beverages can be expensive. A 20oz water or soda is around $7, 24oz can of domestic beer $20 and cocktails $20+. A hot dog is $8, nachos $9, pizza slice $15, bucket of popcorn $10 and a burger or specialty sandwich $20.

There are some great dining spots in T-Mobile Arena, including Pizza Forte, Shake Shack, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, Four Peaks Carvery, Fuku Chicken and many more.

You can purchase Golden Knights gear at many kiosks at each game, but you can also visit The Armory Team Store for a large variety of new and exclusive items. It is located to the right of the main entrance.

Restrictions at T-Mobile Arena

No backpacks or bags of any size will be permitted into the venue except for small clutches (9″ x 5″ x 2″ max).
No outside food, beverage, or alcohol.
No noise making devices (i.e. air horns, whistles, bells, vuvuzelas, etc.)
Complete list of prohibited items (there are many). 🌐

Tips For Attending a Game

The temperature inside T-Mobile Arena for Golden Knights games is usually between 60°F and 65ºF, so it is best to wear layered clothing or bring a jacket. The closer to the ice, the colder it will be.
Paid lockers are available outside the arena to store oversize items.
If you stay until the end of the game, wait about 15 minutes in the concourse before taking the escalators to exit the arena to avoid a surge of people.
If you do not want to spend a fortune on food and beverages at the game, consider arriving early and dine or grab a drink at one of the nearby restaurants or bars. You may find a Happy Hour deal from our list of over 300.

Getting To/From T-Mobile Arena

VEHICLE PARKING – The closest valet and self-parking lots are at New York-New York, Park MGM, ARIA, Excalibur and MGM Grand.
TAXI/UBER/LYFT – Arrival: Ask to be dropped off at Park MGM or T-Mobile Arena. Departure: To avoid taxi lines, it is best to walk to New York-New York, ARIA or Excalibur. Uber/Lyft can usually pick-up without a problem at Park MGM, T-Mobile Arena, New York-New York or ARIA.
RTC BUS – Routes near T-Mobile Arena include: The Deuce and 201. Other routes: 🌐
RTC GAME DAY EXPRESS – You can take the Game Day Express to/from every game from six casinos throughout the Las Vegas Valley. $2/$1 seniors (each way) 🌐
TRAMS – From Mandalay Bay or Luxor, you can take a free tram to Excalibur and walk to the arena or if staying near Bellagio, the ARIA Express Tram will take you to Park MGM and the arena.
MONORAIL – The Las Vegas Monorail is a great way to get to to the game if you are staying on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. Monorail Stations are at SAHARA, Westgate, Las Vegas Convention Center, Harrah’s/LINQ, Flamingo and Horseshoe/Paris. Exit at the MGM Grand Station and walk to the arena.

VGK Specialty License Plate

The second most popular specialty license plate in Nevada is the Vegas Golden Knights, with over 80,000 issued. The Las Vegas Raiders plate has around 44,000.