In Las Vegas, Alan Snel noted the average cost of a Golden Knights ticket is a "blade-width over $100," and the least expensive ticket on the team's in-house secondary ticket site for the Oct. 2 home-opener against the Sharks is $215 for upper end and upper corner seats. Many fans said that it is "more affordable" to attend Golden Knights games in California and Arizona than to go to T-Mobile Arena. Last season, the Golden Knights drew more than 750,000 fans for their 41 home games, averaging 18,319 fans a game at T-Mobile Arena. That figure is 105.5% of the arena's capacity, "second highest in the NHL" behind the Blackhawks (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 8/19).
EXPECTED OUTCOME: NHL Network's Elliotte Friedman said he "wasn't surprised" the Canucks signed GM Jim Benning to a three-year extension because "if you listen to their ownership and basically the organization around the draft, which was in Vancouver this year, they sounded like they were happy." Friedman: "If there was any surprise, it was the term. ... In this day and age in the NHL, particularly in a white-hot Canadian market which Vancouver is, I don't really think it's usually a good idea to have your general manager going to the last year of his deal. It leaves too many distractions, especially when you're expected to improve" ("NHL Tonight," NHL Network, 8/20).
NOT READY FOR THE COLD: In Minneapolis, La Velle Neal III noted the Twins will "not begin" the '20 season at home, as they are "opening the season with a four-game series" against the A's before facing the Mariners in a three-game set. The Twins through the first week of the season "won't be in a park where there could be a fashion show of snowmobile suits in the stands." Twins President Dave St. Peter said the team "requested opening in a warmer weather location." St. Peter: "Playing the season's first (seven) games on the West Coast provides an opportunity to ensure weather isn’t a factor" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/18).
