Why are Vegas Golden Knights fans obsessed with flamingos?
By Jim Lynch
The Vegas Golden Knights have only been in the league for six seasons. During that time they have accomplished a lot like going to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season, making the Conference Final three times and potentially winning the Stanley Cup this year.
If you are a fan of hockey about to tune into the potential cup-clinching game for the Golden Knights, then you might notice some flamingos throughout the crowd of Vegas fans. It is a tradition that has been with the organization going back to its first season.
Why are Vegas Golden Knights fans obsessed with flamingos?
The short answer here is that they just are. But there is a little bit more backstory as to why Golden Knights fans are obsessed with flamingos. After losing two straight games during the Golden Knights’ inaugural season, the team was hosting the Calgary Flames in March of 2018.
After the Golden Knights took a 1-0 lead in the game, a fan threw a pink flamingo on the ice, and the Victory Flamingo was born. The fan, Drew Johnson, was a season ticket holder hoping the little flamingo would help change the tide.
The Golden Knights would end up winning the game, and the flamingo would catch on. Now, fans will dress up in pink as flamingos at the game, and you can see countless little blow-up flamingos thrown on the ice after a big goal or after a big win.
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— 🏆 - Victory Flamingo🦩 (@VGKFlamingo) June 11, 2023
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The little pink Victory Flamingos have really caught on in Vegas. Much like the Octopus in Detroit, the rats in Florida, or the Catfish in Nashville. The fun thing about the Golden Knights tradition though has to be how unique the origin of it was.
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During a regular season game of the Golden Knights’ first year, it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision from a fan that has led to something pretty unique. Hopefully, the Vegas Golden Knights can win the Stanley Cup with a big win in Game 5 on Tuesday night. With that win, fans could potentially see a photo of a flamingo with the Stanley Cup.