There's no denying it. Las Vegas is quickly becoming a hockey town. It's all thanks to the early and consistent success of Bill Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights. Winning the Stanley Cup in your first six seasons and making two Stanley Cup Final appearances will do that.
It's no different this year with the Golden Knights competing for... yet another Stanley Cup. It's like the old adage from Benjamin Franklin:
"Death, taxes, the San Jose Sharks eliminated from playoff contention, and the Golden Knights competing for the Stanley Cup."
Even one of America's Founding Fathers knows that the Sharks stink and Vegas is one of the best hockey teams around.
But it seems there's trouble in paradise for a local athletic department. They have greater aspirations to play with the big boys, partaking in NCAA Division I hockey. They were also ACHA champions by blowing out Adrian College, 7-3. The championship victory on Tuesday lent credence to Las Vegas growing as a hockey town.
Therefore, it's time for Foley to step in, be the cool guy, and spread the goodwill to the lower levels. Who needs a magical touch to make it to the next level? What program could use a boost to play with the big boys of college hockey?
Bill Foley could help UNLV men's hockey by providing a financial boost
UNLV's athletic department is currently in a rut. We're talking about a $31 million deficit. Money's in short supply for the Runnin' Rebels, where even Dan Mullen might not get his checks.
Add in an additional $20-$30 million to operate a hockey team and it makes things even more complicated. That's where UNLV men's hockey stands after winning the ACHA championship on Tuesday.
Mind you, they're celebrating all sorts of highs. Even athletic director Erick Harper has seen the team. He's spoken to the team about making men's ice hockey a varsity sport. However, the money's not there.
That's where Bill Foley and his $2.8 billion net worth (according to Forbes) comes in. The billionaire hasn't shied away from giving back to the Las Vegas community. He paid for his own arena, stating that public money should be used for essential services (i.e. public transportation).
It's no wonder the Vegas Golden Knights have been successful during their NHL tenure. It starts at the top, where the owner cares about his community. Imagine the reception behind taking care of a collegiate athletic department with a simple donation. It'd put the Golden Knights into more of a good grace with the Las Vegas community.
It goes beyond the Vegas Golden Knights owner donating, though
Of course, this will come with other hurdles. That includes Title IX, which requires UNLV men's hockey to add a female counterpart with comparable numbers. Given there are few programs like this out West, that could complicate matters further. Maybe women's lacrosse? Las Vegas ladies, you know what to do. Start playing lacrosse!
There's also finding a viable arena to play in. While nice, City National Arena is too small for NCAA hockey with 600 seats. For comparison, Mullett Arena is home to Arizona State University and houses 5,000. This won't be as big of an issue considering other venues are suitable for college hockey. Think of the Orleans Arena and their 9,500-seat capacity as a perfect example of this.
Still, Foley's generosity would be a terrific start. Not only does it get the ball rolling on making UNLV men's hockey part Division I, but it also helps the athletic department altogether. Being the university is struggling with paying its bills, a little donation can help push the Runnin' Rebels back on track. It could also get the Skatin' Rebels on the ice with the big guns.