5 facts you didn't know about T-Mobile Arena
T-Mobile Arena has become the de facto home for numerous big events. The Vegas Golden Knights are to thank for this. But there's more to the stadium.
It's fun being the new kid on the block and getting tons of love from various sports. You're hosting countless events, from UFC events to conference tournaments for college basketball. You have a modern feel to your appearance, bringing sleek visuals for all fans to see. Life is good if you're T-Mobile Arena, for you're the center of the universe.
Of course, Vegas Golden Knights games are included in the package, which makes the arena go round. That has even led to two Stanley Cup Finals being hosted, with one ending in a massive celebration. Golden Knights fans won't forget the good times that ensued, whether inside the arena or in Toshiba Plaza. It's good to be the king.
It helps to have an excellent front office and ownership group that cares about the team. The Golden Knights have a lifetime winning percentage of .581, with their home percentage at .630. One might say this will be Vegas's eighth season in the NHL, which is true. However, most expansion teams aren't wildly successful out of the gate.
Overall, the team has a record of 170-80-20, earning 360 points throughout its franchise history. That equals a points percentage of .667, which amounts to earning one point minimum for two of every three games. Imagine how good you must be to accumulate a point at that pace. It's no wonder Vegas has earned a reputation across the NHL.
But let's dive into T-Mobile Arena for a second. There are countless facts about the new(-ish) arena that fans don't know about. With the regular season opener rapidly approaching, it's time to get your pens and pieces of paper out, class. We're learning some fun facts about the Vegas Golden Knights home base and what makes it special!
1.) The UFC has hosted 29 fights (including the Ultimate Fighter Finale) here
It's no secret the Golden Knights share a home with Dana White's promotion. The two Las Vegas-based establishments have been wildly successful throughout their decorated histories, breaking records and winning titles. Both have also produced a wide array of superstars, whether that was Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault or former UFC Lightweight Champion, Conor McGregor.
These world-famous superstars made the two entities huge, garnering a global fanbase. Of course, it started at T-Mobile Arena, where the promotion has hosted 29 fights. That included the Ultimate Fighter Finale and UFC 229, where the main event was Khabib vs. McGregor. This doesn't include UFC Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies.
It's safe to say these two will have a lasting impact on the venue for years to come. That includes the next big main event and (hopefully) more Stanley Cup Final games. The arena hopes to be the go-to venue for big concerts, college basketball tournaments, and events, with the two franchises leading the charge.
2.) T-Mobile Arena is a privately funded venue
There's a major plague going on in Las Vegas. Publicly funded arenas and stadiums are infiltrating the city, costing citizens their hard-earned money.
Whether that's Allegiant Stadium and $750 million in public assistance for the football stadium's construction or the proposed baseball stadium for the soon-to-be(?) Las Vegas Athletics, Sin City is becoming a playground for publicly-funded ventures. In an age where families are struggling to afford basic necessities like groceries and rent, this is a plague that must be stopped.
The good news is Bill Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights aren't part of the public funding scene. T-Mobile Arena is privately funded, with joint ownership split between Anschutz Entertainment Group (42.5%), MGM Resorts International (42.5%), and Bill Foley's group (15%). Foley himself stated the following on where taxpayer funds should go.
"We can better spend our money on firefighters, teachers, and policemen. Let's have the best of that as opposed to building a big stadium."
Take notes, John Fisher. You got plenty to learn about the subject matter of being a good owner of a sports team.
3.) The Vegas Golden Knights got their first home win on October 10, 2017, against the Arizona Coyotes
The Golden Knights got "Viva Las Vegas" by Elvis Presley bumping for the first time on October 10, 2017, against the Arizona Coyotes. Back then, the two teams were divisional rivals, separated by a four-hour drive. What better way to earn your first home victory than against a geographical rival next door?
Tomas Nosek scored the first regular season goal ever at T-Mobile Arena, where he was assisted by Pierre Edouard-Bellemare and Luca Sbisa. His goal was part of a four-goal first period, where Vegas never looked back. That included two goals by James Neal, who spent his only season with the Golden Knights in 2017-18.
Marc-Andre Fleury also had a big game, stopping 31 of 33 shots (.939 save percentage). It was his first home victory as a Golden Knights goaltender, where he would also make a name for himself in the arena. It must feel nice being in the same company as UFC legends Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, especially when you lead your team to the Stanley Cup Final in your first season.
4.) T-Mobile Arena previously hosted Frozen Fury
In case you don't know what Frozen Fury is, it was an annual pre-season hockey game in a non-hockey city. The Los Angeles Kings were hosts of this traditional event, going to cities like Salt Lake City to spread the influence of hockey. It's safe to say that influence has done well, for it brought two new teams to the NHL.
The Utah Hockey Club is the most recent "expansion" team to make its way to the league, where Delta Center was the previous host of the event. However, T-Mobile Arena also hosted the event on October 7-8, 2016. That consisted of two games that featured the Dallas Stars vs. the Kings and the Colorado Avalanche vs. the Kings (the initial competitor in the challenge).
The Kings playing an integral role in the NHL's growth out west is something most fans didn't see coming. However, they've done an excellent job of developing interest in the sport with their pre-season games. In fact, they also did this with a pre-season match against the New York Rangers at Caesar's Palace on September 27, 1991.
5.) The arena can seat up to 20,000 people
Fans might not realize this. But T-Mobile Arena can seat over 20,000 people for a single event. No, this isn't for hockey games, where the Vegas Golden Knights have a capacity of 17,500 seats. However, boxing and UFC events can seat 20,000 people for a card, making it bigger than people realize.
For basketball games, 19,000 people can be seated. It doesn't matter if it's college basketball games in the form of conference tournaments and classics or WNBA games. The arena has a bigger capacity that makes it one of the better venues for watching a basketball game. Could an NBA team move in here or will they find a new home elsewhere? Stay tuned.
But what about concerts, you might ask? For end-stage concerts, seating consists of a number between 12,000 and 18,000 people. Center-stage concerts can hold between 9,000 and 20,000 fans, making it a massive venue for your entertainment needs. That's a major part of what makes Las Vegas the focal point of North American leisure, where fans can experience the best singers, sports teams, and comedians.
feed