Sisolak Uses Golden Knights Game Images For Gubernatorial Campaign TV Ad During Last Night’s VGK Broadcast

By ALAN SNEL

LVSportsBiz.com

 

The intersection of sports and politics was on full display during the broadcast of the Vegas Golden Knights game on AT&T SportsNet last night when a political spot bought by gubernatorial candidate Steve Sisolak included Golden Knights images of games and crowds at T-Mobile Arena.

 

More than any other political candidate in Nevada this year, Sisolak has used the growth of professional sports in Las Vegas — especially the NHL expansion Vegas Golden Knights and NFL Raiders stadium — as a theme in his run for governor.

 

I”m obviously a huge Golden Knights fan. I love the way they embraced this community,” Sisolak told LVSportsBiz.com Wednesday afternoon. Sisolak personally lobbied NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to plant the big leagues of hockey in Las Vegas.

 

During the 30-second spot that began during Tuesday night’s Golden Knights’ broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, Sisolak says, “They said pro sports had no business in Nevada.”

 

Sisolak, a VGK season ticket holder who is often seen at T-Mobile Arena in his Golden Knights jersey, didn’t specify who the “they” were in that quote. But Sisolak stressed the “team working together” theme in the TV ad.

 

Here’s a look at the spot, the third TV ad in his Democratic primary campaign. Sisolak, the Clark County commission chairman, is squaring off against fellow county Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani in the primary.

LVSportsBiz.com has already reported on Sisolak’s love for pro sports in Las Vegas and his role as county commissioner. 

 

Sisolak was at Saturday night’s dramatic Golden Knights’ 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks and witnessed the emotional pregame ceremony when the Knights raised a banner to honor the memories of the 58 people killed by a gunman on the Strip Oct. 1.

 

But Tuesday night’s TV spot was the first time Sisolak embraced the sports theme himself in a TV commercial. The ad, dubbed, “Knights,” uses the “working together” theme to sell voters on Sisolak and shows images of Golden Knights game wins and game crowd shots.

 

LVSportsBiz.com tried to contact Golden Knights spokesman Eric Tosi Wednesday. Tosi is travelling with the NHL team through a three-game swing in Canada and could not be reached. We also left a phone message for Giunchigliani to comment.

 

Besides lobbying Bettman to create an expansion franchise in Las Vegas, Sisolak has also showed unbridled enthusiasm for the new Raiders’ $1.8 billion stadium project that opens in mid-2020.

 

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After the last Raiders stadium meeting at the county commission chambers, LVSportsBiz.com asked Raiders Marc Badain jokingly whether Sisolak would announce a Raiders draft pick like he did last year. Badain smiled and quipped, “We won’t let him make the pick.”

 

Sisolak said his Golden Knights TV ad will also run during the team’s appearances during the Stanley Cup playoffs that begin next week.

 

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