By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
With only five home games left in the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights’ announced attendance is averaging 18,011 fans per game — which is 103.7 percent of capacity for hockey at T-Mobile Arena.
It’s a remarkable attendance mark, with the team benefiting from standing-room-only space around the venue that’s wedged in between Monte Carlo and the New York-New York parking garage. Only three NHL teams have higher attendance capacity numbers — Chicago (109.7 percent), Minnesota (105.9 percent), and Washington (104.6 percent).
Golden Knights owner Bill Foley has said the average Golden Knights ticket is $88. If the Golden Knights average 18,011 fans per game for the final five games, that will bring the regular-season attendance total to 738,485. Multiply total attendance of 738,485 by the average $88 ticket price, and you have total ticket revenues of nearly $65 million. (Some tickets are comps, it should be noted.)
Those $65 million in ticket revenues go a long way toward covering the team’s player salaries. Other important revenues come from broadcast rights and corporate sponsorship deals.
Golden Knights attendance is creeping up as the season moves along. The Pacific Division leaders were averaging 17,941 fans per game after 27 home games.
The Golden Knights play the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday at 7 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.
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My friends at the Sports Business Journal have recognized the Golden Knights and T-Mobile Arena for several 2018 award nominations.
The Golden Knights were nominated among six teams for “Sports Team of the Year.”
Golden Knights owner Bill Foley was among five people nominated for the “Sports Executive of the Year.”
T-Mobile Arena, the Golden Knights’ home ice, was nominated among six venues for “Sports Facility of the Year.”
And don’t forget, the Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing match, held at T-Mobile Arena, was among six nominated for “Sports Event of the Year.”
It should be noted that MGM Resorts International, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Bill Foley all own T-Mobile Arena.
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It’s VGK Fan Appreciation Week from March 26-31 and the Knights have planned a whole bunch of free goodies for their fans. Here’s a nice Golden Knights press release on NHL.com to give the list of freebies.
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