By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Golden Knights Superfan Lan Beyster is breaking out the drinks and the sanitizers.
It was Game Day Tuesday, and the ringleader of the Vegas Golden Knights Misfits fan club was ready to have fun with her Misfits pals in the age of COVID-19, a pandemic that has claimed the lives of 165,000 Americans.
“Planning a home watch party during a pandemic is not as bad as I thought it would be. I keep my guest list at a max of 25 people. I have everyone bring their own food, ice and beverages. I do have sanitizers and disinfectants throughout the house,” Beyster said. “Having a watch party at home saves money for everyone and the it’s also a fun way for VGK fans to feel like they’re at the fortress.”
Beyster sets up VGK postseason game watch in her back yard. She expects only a few people for today’s 2:30 p.m. VGK-Blackhawks Game 2, but she noted today that more Misfits fans will be returning for Games 3 and 4 Saturday and Sunday when they don’t have to work.
Another VGK superfan, Christopher Green, likes to go to Dean’s Place off Dean Martin Boulevard near the Silverton Resort in the south valley.
“They have dozens of televisions in a malleable, lawfully-compliant environment, non-smoking and smoking, fully-stocked bar with a great Italian-American kitchen. Soups, salads, a steak & burger or two, lots of familiar entered entrees like Marsala & Bolognese. The staff are friendly, tolerant & vehement VGK fans who attended games at T-Mobile Arena as are the few other patrons,” Green said.
“The business maintains a strict capacity limit according to current governmental requirements. Great energy and great spaces, even a dog friendly patio. To the business is very accommodating to Knights fans as long as you always wear your mask and pay attention to the new ways but they’ll shout #GoKnightsGo and WOOOOOOOO! along with you all you like,” Green pointed out.
With many fans staying home to watch Golden Knights playoff games, the VGK have created a home watch party kid that retails for $30. LVSportsBiz.com contacted Brian Killingsworth, VGK’s chief marketing officer, to get the lowdown on the Knights’ newest retail product. Here’s how the watch kit came together.
“We truly have the best home ice advantage in the NHL with the best fans in the National Hockey League. We all miss the collective energy and excitement of a packed Fortress so we wanted to find an innovative way to have our fans be able to celebrate VGK Stanley Cup Playoff wins with their friends and family so we created the Stay-at-home watch party kits,” Killingsworth explained.
“Each Watch Party kit contains an exclusive playoff Knight Up bag, playoff rally towels, light up cheer sticks, car decals, cowbells, whistles and other noisemakers for only $30. We are encouraging our fans to show us their at-home viewing set-ups and capture their goal celebrations and send it to us on Twitter at @goldenknights. The Stay-at-home Watch Party Kits have been selling really well at the Arsenal at City National Arena and online at vegasteamstore.com and we only have a limited number of kits left.”