Approaching Postseason Could Fuel Fan Fights At Golden Knights Games

By ALAN SNEL

LVSportsBiz.com

 

T-Mobile Arena ushers were told to be aware of potential fights between Golden Knights and visiting team fans as the postseason gets closer and more is at stake with every game as the playoffs approach, an usher supervisor told LVSportsBiz.com before Wednesday’s Golden Knights-Calgary Flames game.

 

The supervisor’s comments came just two days after Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks fans mixed it up on the top concourse after the Ducks beat the Golden Knights, 2-0. It was first fight on the concourse that ushers and fans could recall so far this home season at T-Mobile Arena.

 

The Golden Knights are working with arena security and Metro Police to ID the fighters.

 

The usher supervisor said Monday’s post-game fight began after the Ducks fans began mouthing off to Golden Knights fans.

 

The usher head said he has not seen fans from opposing teams at the arena fight with VGK fans like they did Monday evening. He noted fans’ emotions could run higher as the season winds down and the playoffs come within sight.

 

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LVSportsBiz.com checked in with Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz before Wednesday’s game. He said fights can happen in all arenas and didn’t think scuffles will increase at T-Mobile Arena as the postseason approaches.

 

Visiting team fans are plentiful at most Golden Knights games, with Las Vegas’ tourism-based economy bringing in thousands of hockey fans from across the U.S. and Canada. Typically, there’s good-natured razzing between Golden Knights and opposing team fans. Many Golden Knights season ticket holders sell their tickets to secondary market operators at a profit and the tickets’ are often re-sold to out-of-town fans from visiting teams.

 

Despite open seats around the lower bowl tonight for Wednesday’s VGK 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames, announced attendance was 18,014 at the franchise’s 30th home game this maiden season. The team’s average game attendance is creeping toward 18,000 at 17,959 going into Wednesday’s game. Capacity is considered 17,367 and the VGK are filling the building at a capacity rate of 103.4 percent going into Wednesday’s game.

 

The Golden Knights have now won 40 out of 60 games and have piled up 84 points, with 22 games left on the schedule.

 

Next home game is Friday when the Vancouver Canucks play the Goldens Knights 7:30 p.m. Best post-game press conference comment from VGK coach Gerard Gallant is that he doesn’t consider the Golden Knights an “expansion team” anymore.

 

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