VGK, Raiders Fans Pack Summerlin Ballpark Amid Scorching Heat For Charity Softball Game Saturday
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Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell and Hugh Byrne for LVSportsBiz.com
There is no heat too hot enough to keep Vegas Golden Knights fans away from their beloved Stanley Cup-winning VGK.
There was a sellout of more than 10,000 fans at the Las Vegas Aviators’ ballpark in Summerlin where the Knights played the Raiders in a charity softball game for Big Brothers Big Sisters and a public education organization Saturday evening.
About $275,000 was raised thanks to the charity game that was started by former Knights Misfit Reilly Smith, who won the Cup with the VGK in June, celebrated the championship with a historic celebration on the Strip and then was traded by the franchise to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The night not just raised money but also served as a community goodbye to the 32-year-old Smith, who often talked with the media after many games.
The Battle For Vegas event qlwo gave the VGK fans another opportunity to collectively root on their Knights, the NHL champs who brought their entertainment characters.
Temperatures soared well into the triple digits, but that didn’t keep fans from packing Las Vegas Ballpark, the Triple-A baseball stadium that had Las Vegas folks cheering all night.
Smith was a special focus for the game. He’s an original Golden Misfit who was traded to Pittsburgh as a salary cap move to create space to sign other players like goalie Adin Hill.
The “Battle For Vegas” event started in 2019 and I bet Smith keeps it going even if he’s in Pittsburgh during the next NHL season.
Smith received a standing O from the SRO crowd and there was a video tribute, too.
