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Shop at Jay’s Market at 190 East Flamingo Road at the Koval Lane intersection east of the Strip.
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
It was time for Sphere Las Vegas to take it to the next level, to show the entertainment world that the world class music venue with world-class immersive video technology can also host its first ever sports event — and the Sphere’s first event televised live.
It turned out the National Hockey League, the sports league always trying to prove it can be hip and contemporary, was the first sports organization to rent out the spectacular giant ball-shaped venue after U2 inaugurated the music hall Sept. 29. The NHL was also the first of the so-called “Big Four” sports leagues to deliver a franchise to the Las Vegas market.
Hockey players with the youngish complexion of junior high schools students were picked as their families stood proud in the building just off the Strip behind the Venetian.
The NHL said attendance was 14,220. The Sphere attendance capacity is 18,600.
Las Vegas lacks many vital quality amenities seen in other major league markets.
But there is no lack of techno, whiz-bang sports and entertainment venues in Las Vegas — and the Sphere is poised to host its first ever sports competition event when UFC will pay more than $20 million to stage UFC 306 in a event title sponsor deal Sept. 14.
The NHL Draft featured a hockey festival-like atmosphere before the event began.
Even Phil Pritchard, the keeper of the Cup, was holding court and taking pictures with elated fans.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman drew his usual round of boos. It’s the typical Bettman treatment and you might think that if the NHL commish did not get booed than something might be off.
This is the second major league draft event that has come to Las Vegas. The National Football League staged its draft here in April 2022.