X

Golden Knights’ Perron: Business Support Inside Franchise Translating Into Wins

Golden Knights business side is helping team convert its efforts into victories. Photo credit: Erik John Ricardo/LVSportsBiz.com

A lonely Capitals fan at T-Mobile Arena tonight. Photo credit: Erik John Ricardo/LVSportsBiz.com

 

By ALAN SNEL

 

David Perron was in his black tights and black long-sleeved shirt after tonight’s whitewash win over the powerful Washington Capitals. He was holding court in front of his locker and got around to discussing the infrastructure of a first-year franchise.

 

The $31 million, twin-rink practice center and headquarters in Summerlin.

 

The Las Vegas-style entertainment show bits, videos and deafening fan noise that accompany the Golden Knights’ play on the T-Mobile Arena ice.

 

The presence and business acumen of owner Bill Foley.

 

Does all this behind-the-scenes support translate into wins?

 

“Yes,” said Perron, one of the team’s top six forwards and a veteran who has been around the rink a few times.

 

There’s Golden Knights’ David Perron, who worked with a writer for a recent internet story that said the success of this first-year team is no fluke. Photo credit: Daniel Clark/LVSportsBiz.com `

 

LVSportsBiz.com talked with fans today during the Golden Knights’ 3-0 victory over a Capitals team that suffered a 3-2 loss to the lowly Arizona Coyotes last night.

 

Another terrific photo by Erik John Ricardo tonight.

 

And to a person each fan said the entire game production from the drummer line that enters the arena from the plaza to the pre-game sword ceremony to the videos on the T-Mobile Arena center jumbotron to the sheer fan commotion noise are the best they have seen in a NHL arena.

 

The drummer line is literally marching through the main concourse before today’s Golden Knights game. Photo credit: Erik Ricardo/LVSportsBiz.com

 

 

In-game entertainment chief Jonny Greco filming the drummer line from behind along the main concourse before the Golden Knights game. Photo credit: Erik John Ricardo/LVSportsBiz.com

 

 

The Golden Knights’ success on the ice has been unprecedented for a team not even halfway through their inaugural season.

 

And the fans and players alike believe the spirited mojo of a team playing in the wake of a community tragedy such as the murderous shooting on the Strip plus the infrastructure support of a world-class training center have added up to wins in the standings.

 

The Golden Knights shut out Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals today. Photo credit: Erik John Ricardo/LVSportsBiz.com.

 

Even the most jaded reporters find it difficult to find faults with a first-year sports franchise that is also the first major league team in the Las Vegas market.

 

In a press conference last week, LVSportsBiz.com asked coach Gerard Gallant if he is grasping the Cinderella story of this expansion team. Gallant said last month he couldn’t believe the success but now he expects wins every game.

 

*

 

Follow LVSportsBiz.com on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Contact LVSportsBiz.com founder/writer Alan Snel at asnel@LVSportsBiz.com 

 

Alan Snel: Alan Snel brings decades of sports-business reporting experience to LVSportsBiz.com. Snel covered the business side of sports for the South Florida (Fort Lauderdale) Sun-Sentinel, the Tampa Tribune and Las Vegas Review-Journal. As a city hall beat reporter, Snel also covered stadium deals in Denver and Seattle. In 2000, Snel launched a sport-business website for FoxSports.com called FoxSportsBiz.com. After reporting sports-business for the RJ, Snel wrote hard-hitting stories on the Raiders stadium for the Desert Companion magazine in Las Vegas and The Nevada Independent. Snel is also one of the top bicycle advocates in the country.
Related Post