You want to know what's funny? It took a year after starting this gig to finally consider stepping out of my shell as a Vegas Golden Knights fan. Normally, I'm an introverted person who doesn't like leaving the house. You never know when there will be an overly friendly salesperson trying to sell you a scam or a scoundrel trying to end your life.
But that changed when I went to VGK Fan Fest last year. I got to experience a festival filled with excitement and happiness, watching young kids test their skills on a grass rink. But that wasn't the main draw (no offense to the youngsters).
Instead, it was meeting the Golden Knights stars, old and new. Fans getting autographs and pictures showed how humble and down-to-earth the players were, essentially making them into community staples. After all, that's how the Golden Knights stabilized a shaken community after the tragic events surrounding October 1, 2017.
That's what made this event unique. Would you expect other sports franchises to do something like this? What about the Dallas Cowboys and their cheerleaders, when that group hasn't made the NFC Championship in almost three decades? Ironically, the Golden Knights were formed a decade ago and made two Stanley Cup Finals.
VGK Fan Fest is what makes being a Vegas Golden Knights fan unique
Sure, NHL teams roll out their own "red carpet" events like the Golden Knights do with their "Gold Carpet" event to open the season. You can say the NHL does a better job with giving fans access to their players than most leagues.
But how often do you see festivals dedicated to fans? How often are there contests to win and actual zambonis sitting near shopping malls? Not often, which is what makes VGK Fan Fest unique. It's an opportunity to interact with the players and other fans.
That's partially what helped me become more extroverted. Aside from having friends encouraging me to come out of my shell (thank you, by the way), getting out of my comfort zone also came from this. For that, I'm forever thankful.
With that, here's to another excellent season together. Let's hope it ends with another Stanley Cup party at Toshiba Plaza, where we make more new friends along the way. After all, that's the goal with numerous new faces on board. You'd want to see them have an awesome "festival" of their own come June, right?