By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
Bet you didn’t know that Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt has bobblehead designing skills.
In fact, when Schmidt finished Monday morning’s practice, he took a seat at his locker and had an idea for a bobblehead for fellow defenseman Colin Miller, who was relaxing only two lockers down at City National Arena.
“I’d give him the sloppy hair flip,” said Schmidt, sporting his signature wide smile.
When LVSportsBiz.com suggested that the Miller bobblehead could also sport a Miller slapshot windup pose, Schmidt also liked that idea.
Well, neither Schmidt nor Miller will be featured in tonight’s inaugural bobblehead giveaway at the Golden Knights-Anaheim Ducks game at T-Mobile Arena just off the Strip.
The expansion franchise’s bobblehead debut will be none other than Chance, the gila monster mascot who took quite a few verbal shots when he was first debuted after the season began.
This is a limited edition bobblehead and will not be available in retail stores, said Brian Killingsworth, Golden Knights chief marketing officer. They team ordered more than 18,000 because every fan who comes to the arena with a ticket will get one. It paid off — announced attendance was 18267, second largest this season.
“Based on the success of our Chance items so far this season (sold out all the Chance plush dolls in a week and have more on order), we do anticipate a lot of demand and excitement for this one,” Killingsworth told LVSportsBiz.com. “I know firsthand that Chance is extremely excited to be the first bobblehead in team history. It will immediately become one of the hottest collectibles in team history.”
Killingsworth joined Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz and Todd Pollock, Golden Knights ticket sales chief, in the lobby where fans gobbled up the Chance bobblehead. Check out LVSportsBiz.com’s coverage of the fans entering the arena and receiving their free memorabilia.
One Chance bobblehead was listed at $5,000 on eBay — check it out yourself.
Even though fans and some media members made fun of Chance, Golden Knights players had no problem with the mascot serving as the franchise’s first bobblehead.
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“It’s cool stuff. A mascot is a big part of the team. Kids love him,” defenseman Brad Hunt said.
Hunt said if had his own bobblehead, it would show a big smile.
Foward Alex Tuch said the Chance bobblehead will be a “cool collector’s item” and noted he still has bobbleheads in his old room at his house. The bobblehead that he still remembers? Retired goaltender Martin Brodeur.
Not only will the Chance bobblehead be a “cool collector’s item,” as Tuch put it, it’ll likely also be a lucrative one.
Golden Knights fans who collect the free player posters at home games predicted the bobblehead will be listed on eBay in less than five minutes after the doors open at T-Mobile Arena Monday. Bobbleheads will be handed to each fan when he or she enters the arena.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if people are trying to sell them on eBay even before they actually get them,” said season ticketholder Beverly Marques, who enjoys collecting the player game posters.
In fact, there he is on eBay.
“The only question is how fast will the bobblehead be on eBay,” Marques said.
Killingsworth does not expect any scuffles to break out over the bobblehead. “We will have security on hand, as we always do for our home games, but we do not anticipate any issues,” he said.
Season ticket holder Juli Shapiro said her Chance bobblehead will not be for sale — though she might consider selling if she’s blown away by an offer.
“It is not for sale. I guess if they offered me $$500 I might sell one, but I doubt it,” Shapiro said.
Apparently, bobbleheads of actual Golden Knights players have been ordered. A sports retail industry source said the team has ordered bobbleheads of Jonathan Marchessault, James Neal and Malcolm Subban.
Who knows. If Neal is getting a Golden Knights bobblehead, perhaps that’s a clue about whether the the team will sign the popular goal-scoring forward to a contract extension.
Never underestimate the power of the bobblehead.
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