Globetrotting VGK Owner Foley Enjoys His Auckland FC Soccer Team’s First Win In New Zealand; VGK Power By LA Kings, 6-1, Tuesday
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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
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley could not get to T-Mobile Arena to watch the VGK host the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday night.
But the businessman with the vast global business portfolio had a very good excuse.
Foley, who knows a thing or two about expansion sports teams, had watched his new expansion soccer team in New Zealand emerge victorious in its first game in the A-Leagues. Foley’s Auckland Football Club was approved 11 months ago.
It’s a nice addition to his New Zealand properties. Foley’s first business in New Zealand dates back 15 years ago to 2008 and his Foley Wines is listed on the New Zealand stock exchange. His companies in New Zealand have hired more than 500 Kiwis.
The man who started the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 with the Maloof family and owns wineries and restaurants has become quite the investor in worldwide soccer teams.
In December 2022, Foley acquired the AFC Bournemouth soccer team of the Premier League in England.
Then a month later in Jan. 2023, Foley bought a significant minority share in a French soccer team, FC Lorient. And then in Jan. 2024, Foley purchased a minority stake in Hibernian FC, a Scottish soccer team based in Edinburgh with a history that traces back to 1875.
Foley is one of the most unique NHL owners. His business interests range from restaurant chains to wineries to hotels.
He also bought out the Maloofs to own the Golden Knights completely.
What’s interesting about Foley’s soccer team interests is that he owns or has ownership stakes in four global soccer teams, but passed on creating a MLS soccer team in Las Vegas. He took a good hard look, but didn’t think building a soccer stadium and starting a team was a prudent investment.
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As for the fame tonight, the VGK took a 3-0 lead after one period thanks to close-in goals by Tomas Hertl, Mark Stone and Pavel Dorofeyev.
Hertl:
Stone:
Dorofeyev:
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The Kings’ Warren Foegele scored with less than a minute left in the second period and the Knights took a 3-1 lead into the third period behind solid goaltending by Ilya Samsonov.
But the Knights salted the game away with three goals in the third thanks to goals by Alexander Holtz, Hertl and Ivan Barbashev.
Samsonov stopped 30 of 31 shots. The Knights are now 4-2-1 on the young season after losses to Washington and Tampa Bay and an overtime L to the Panthers on the recent three-game road trip.
The Knights play Ottawa Friday afternoon and San Jose Saturday evening at the Big Ice House by the Strip.
