Fidelity National Financial Chair Bill Foley said that Hockey Vision Las Vegas -- his group seeking to bring an NHL team to the city -- has "secured 11,500 deposits to go with 1,000 commitments from corporations and 735 suite seats," according to Case Keefer of the LAS VEGAS SUN. Foley met fans during a public viewing of last night's Ducks-Blackhawks Western Conference Finals Game 6 and said, "To me, that’s a statement. Our goal was 10,000, and we’re still selling tickets." He added that half- and quarter-season packages "are now available and should boost the figures." Foley said the total sales of 13,200 tickets over the last three months have left him "pleasantly surprised." Keefer reports Foley "no longer views his long-stated goal of the team beginning play" in the '16-17 season as being possible. He said, "It’s got to be ’17-18 right now. We can’t get ready for ’16 in time." Foley also "expanded on plans to hold a fan vote to name the team." Everyone who purchases season tickets "will be extended the opportunity to submit a name of their choice." Foley: "We’re going to take the top 10 or so to the league and say, 'Can we use these teams?'" Finally, Foley said that he "won’t push to get an invite" to the NHL BOG meeting next month in Las Vegas. Keefer notes some believe expansion "will be discussed more in depth" at the meeting. Citing patience, Foley said that he "would let the process run its course and directed all questions on the meeting to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 5/28).
BUILD IT UP: Hunt Construction VP Monte Thurmond said that MGM and AEG's joint 20,000-seat Las Vegas arena, which would house the prospective NHL team, is "coming to life quicker than expected." Keefer reports MGM Resorts yesterday "held a ceremony ... to celebrate the completion of the arena’s frame with the installation of the final steam beam." Construction, budgeted at $375M, is "set to finish in April with the grand opening sometime shortly afterwards." AEG VP/Global Partnerships Mark Faber yesterday revealed that the company "expected to sell naming rights to the arena before the end of the summer with 'numerous conversations and negotiations' underway" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 5/28). Thurmond said that it will take "about another four months for workers to close the exterior skin of the building" (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 5/27).
