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Vegas Golden Knights Looking For In-Arena Game Host And PA Announcer, Arena Hosts For New Henderson Silver Knights

Wayne "Big D" Danielson has left Las Vegas and his in-arena host job for Nashville. Photo credit: J. Tyge O'Donnell/LVSportsBiz.com

By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com

Through their first three seasons, the Vegas Golden Knights have melded on-ice NHL action with off-ice, over-the-top arena entertainment. In some traditional hockey markets, the off-ice entertainment features might not be embraced like they are here in Las Vegas.

The Golden Knights have earned a reputation for putting on not only NHL games but legitimate entertainment events.

That’s why the VGK place a big emphasis on their in-game entertainment presentation, from the in-game arena announcers to the Las Vegas showgirls before the games to the between-period mini-shows that have featured everyone from Cirque du Soleil performers to Blue Man Group.

The Knights put out the word Tuesday that it’s accepting resumes for in-arena hosts and a game-day PA announcer for the Henderson Silver Knights:  “Both teams are looking for individuals who are ready to fully immerse themselves in the game day shenanigans at The Fortress and Orleans Arena.  The Vegas Golden Knights are looking for an in-arena host, while the Henderson Silver Knights are looking for a PA announcer and in-arena hosts.”

The “in-arena host” sounds like it’s for the job left open by former in-arena host Wayne Danielson, who goes by his entertainment “Big D” moniker. The arena’s other VGK game host was Mark Shunock, who teamed up with Danielson since season one in 2017-18.  But Danielson said in June he was re-locating to Nashville, Tennessee for a country music radio station WSIX-FM, 97.9, job. Katie Marie Jones also worked as a VGK game host with Shunock and Danielson.

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch with arena emcees March Shunock (left) and Big D (right).

 

Golden Knights PA announcer Bruce Cusick at T-Mobile Arena and Shunock, two popular in-game entertainment workers, plan on returning to their roles.

VGK in-arena game host Mark Shunock

 

Bruce Cusick, expected to return as VGK arena PA announcer

 

VGK emcee Big D. Photo credit: J. Tyge O’Donnell/LVSportsBiz.com

The launch of the new minor league Henderson Silver Knights means new in-arena workers for the games that will be initially played at Orleans Arena.

The Knights said they have high standards for these jobs: “Individuals selected for these roles will be integral in maintaining Vegas’ reputation as the best in-arena experience in sports and assist in the launch of the Henderson Silver Knights. These roles will require working nights, weekends and holidays, and may include community appearances outside of game days.”

The Silver Knights will play at Orleans Arena before the city of Henderson finishes its $84 million 6,500-seat hockey arena venue at the site of the old pavilion at 200 South Green Valley Parkway

The Golden Knights are also building a training center and community ice rink facility in Henderson’s downtown area at Water Street and Atlantic Avenue where the minor league team will train.  The city of Henderson is kicking in $10.75 million for that $25 million training center called Lifeguard Arena.

Auditions will be invitation only and held in-person on Nov. 4. Interested applicants must submit a resume of experience, headshot and reel ahead of time through this link. Applications will close Nov. 1.


 

Alan Snel: Alan Snel brings decades of sports-business reporting experience to LVSportsBiz.com. Snel covered the business side of sports for the South Florida (Fort Lauderdale) Sun-Sentinel, the Tampa Tribune and Las Vegas Review-Journal. As a city hall beat reporter, Snel also covered stadium deals in Denver and Seattle. In 2000, Snel launched a sport-business website for FoxSports.com called FoxSportsBiz.com. After reporting sports-business for the RJ, Snel wrote hard-hitting stories on the Raiders stadium for the Desert Companion magazine in Las Vegas and The Nevada Independent. Snel is also one of the top bicycle advocates in the country.
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