Foley's vision for professional hockey in Las Vegas has resulted in major success on and off the iceGETTY IMAGES
Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley's actions are "calculated and planned," an attention to detail that has "made Foley the King Midas of the NHL in his first year as a member of the club," according to Ken Campbell of THE HOCKEY NEWS. The long-term success for an NHL organization "can always, without exception, be tracked back to ownership," and Foley is a "modern-day Mike Ilitch." Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said of Foley's presence, "From Day 1, it’s been supportive. He’s around all the time, but he doesn’t tell you what to do. He asks a lot of questions about hockey. He just wants to help the team win as much as he can." Campbell noted Foley had the vision to see that hockey "could indeed work in the desert and boldly took major professional sports where it had never gone before." The team's first year has "not only has been a hit on the ice, but it will make a lot of money, enough to have to cut a revenue-sharing check to the league after this season rather than drawing one." Sponsorship, ticketing and merchandising sales are "way over budget in terms of revenues," but the local broadcast deal is "not a strong one." Foley said, "Broadcast side is below budget. ... But now, playoffs, you start getting to the Stanley Cup, you actually make quite a bit of money, which I didn't even understand or appreciate. That was never in our budget, and we never thought about it, but it's happened." The Golden Knights will be "reaping the rewards for years to come" regardless of how the Stanley Cup Final conclude (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 6/3).
TIME FOR THE SHOW: In N.Y., Larry Brooks wrote the Golden Knight's pregame routines are "over the top," but there is "nothing remotely wrong with that." The NHL is "moving, sometimes with glacial speed and sometimes reluctantly, into the show-biz realm of 21st century of sports." The "more extravagant the show, the better." That is something the NFL "learned that long ago" (N.Y. POST, 6/3). ESPN's Barry Melrose said that the Golden Knights have "set the standard for putting on a show when it comes to staging" a Stanley Cup Final game. Melrose said that the team has "taken the pregame show, arena atmosphere and fan experience to a whole new level." Melrose: "I want to see that show. It's entertaining. It's fun." He added that the team's "over-the-top theatrics with celebrity-laden in-game entertainment helps broaden hockey's appeal to a wider demographic in Las Vegas." Melrose: "Winning is still the best marketing tool. I’m not sure the entertainment would be so funny if the team was 0-20" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 6/3). Melrose said of Golden Knights-Capitals Game 3 at Capital One Arena in DC, "Can you believe not one plane crashed or one Knight was heard during the opening of this game? ... I was so lonely, I'm used to seeing that in Vegas and I missed it" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/3).
KEEPING IT IN HOUSE: Golden Knights vocalist Carnell Johnson said the team sticking with him as its anthem singer during the playoffs is a "real testament to this city wanting to remain local and not sell out." Johnson: "People come to Vegas thinking we’re just a bunch of partygoers and drinkers and there is all this debauchery. Not true. We have a real sense of community here. This is our hometown. The people have said, 'What we want is the local singer singing the anthem. He was born here. He was with the team even before the playoffs.' It’s an incredible feeling" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/3).
