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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Even though Gov. Steve Sisolak’s COVID-19 directive said 20 percent capacity is allowed for large event gatherings like a Vegas Golden Knights hockey game at T-Mobile Arena starting in March, VGK owner Bill Foley has told a Las Vegas TV station that local Clark County health officials have informed him that they will allow only 15 percent of capacity.
The difference between 15 percent and 20 percent of capacity at T-Mobile Arena would translate into 868 less fans in the building.
The Knights consider fixed seating capacity of the hockey venue at 17,367. Twenty percent of 17,367 is 3,473, while 15 percent would take that number down to 2,605.
Foley made his comments in a videotaped interview with Chris Maathuis, KLAS-Channel 8 sports director, over the weekend during the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe game event between the Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche.
In the interview with Maathuis, Foley described the Clark County health officials’ 15 percent capacity number as “silly” after Sisolak said up to 20 percent of capacity would be allowed at large event gatherings.
“Let the fans enjoy our team and enjoy the game again,” Foley said. The team owner noted Sisolak has the right numbers.
The novel coronavirus has killed a half-million Americans. Foley has said that he was infected with COVID-19 at one point.
With COVID-19 positivity rates dropping from more than 20 percent to close to 10 percent, Sisolak said event promoters can request fans be allowed to attend games starting March 1.
That means the Golden Knights can conceivably have fans at T-Mobile Arena March 1 and 3 for home games between the Knights and Minnesota Wild.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway said it will have fans for its March 5-7 NASCAR weekend at the sprawling race complex north of Las Vegas.