Las Vegas Kicks Off NHL Ticket Drive, But Bettman Mum On Expansion Process

Las Vegas’ push for an NHL franchise "officially took off" yesterday afternoon when lead investor, Fidelity National Financial Chair William Foley, "launched a ticket deposit drive with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman endorsing Foley’s campaign to measure the market’s interest," according to a front-page piece by Alan Snel of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Foley and his partners, former NBA Kings co-Owners Joe and Gavin Maloof, "hope at least 10,000 Las Vegas-area hockey fans will sign up." Bettman’s appearance at the press conference at the MGM Grand "shows the proposal has legs." Bettman said that there are "no promises that Las Vegas will be awarded a franchise, but he called the market 'unique,' and praised Foley’s background." He added that "no NHL teams are moving to Las Vegas and the expansion process has not started." Foley said that he would be "'shocked' if his group sells at least 10,000 ticket deposits but doesn’t draw a new franchise." That prompted Bettman to say, "What you’re hearing is Bill’s enthusiasm." Snel reports if the NHL does not award a franchise to Foley-Maloof, fans will "receive full deposit refunds." The ownership group will "keep the money if the league grants a team to the ownership group and Las Vegas" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/11). Bettman said, "I have no promises to make today. I do wish Bill and the people of Las Vegas good luck in this venture and we will be interested in seeing the results." He added that the league's BOD had "not formally taken up the expansion issue, but said league owners are curious about potential possible markets for the NHL" (AP, 2/10). Bettman: "This is a unique market, and I think Bill, before he continues his efforts any further, has decided he’d like to take a measure of the market and make sure Las Vegas is interested in supporting professional sports” (“Fox Sports Live,” FS1, 2/10).

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Jared Clinton wrote the goal of 10,000 seats "may seem lofty," but in '11, Bettman and the NHL gave True North Sports & Entertainment, the group that purchased the Thrashers with the intent of moving them to Winnipeg, "a season ticket drive goal of 13,000 seats." The goal was "met within the hour." Few people think Las Vegas’ drive "will be met with the same response, but the goal isn’t to sell them all within the day -- the goal is simply just to sell them" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 2/10). ESPN.com's Scott Burnside cited sources as saying that "more than 9,000 individuals had reached out to organizers to express interest in paying to watch NHL hockey in Las Vegas." Fans yesterday were "being asked to commit between $150 and $900 for season tickets depending on the location of the seats in the arena" (ESPN.com, 2/10).

PERFECT FIT? Bettman said that the league "has done some of its due diligence on the potential Las Vegas ownership group and is satisfied they meet the criteria for ownership." Bettman: "Have we gone through the full vetting process? Not yet. But that’s premature at this point" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/11). In Las Vegas, Ray Brewer writes, "Something I’ve learned from meeting with Foley the past two days, is he gets it. He’s sincere in bringing a team to Las Vegas for Las Vegas, and not for tourists." Foley: "Las Vegas, it is a community not just about the Strip and gambling. There are software companies, law firms, distribution companies. Las Vegas has a lot going for it. My job is to get a basic person living in Las Vegas to come to games and buy tickets" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 2/11).

DON'T BET ON IT: In Las Vegas, Brian Deka reports Bettman "wouldn’t address how the NHL views sports betting or how the league would handle placing a team in a state where it is legal." Bettman: “That’s something that we’re going to have to discuss at the appropriate time if we get to that point." Bettman said the issue is “not something we’ve focused on." Bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro said that a Las Vegas team’s games "could be taken off the board, but gaming control regulators and the NHL would decide that." Deka notes the NHL has a "multiyear deal with the fantasy sports website DraftKings, but Bettman said that’s a different situation" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 2/11).