Improving attendance at the Fortress Invitational is one of many factors elevating Las Vegas' hockey scenePROVIDENCE COLLEGE
The annual mid-season college hockey tournament known as the Fortress Invitational, and other events like it, show that the sport "can work" in T-Mobile Arena, which is "why hosting a Frozen Four is a possibility," according to Ben Gotz of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Hosting the event also is possible because the NCAA "now allows states with legal sports wagering to host championship events." Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz said that the ruling "just opens up more opportunities" for the arena. The Fortress Invitational's attendance was "certainly an improvement over its first two years, when it was named the Ice Vegas Invitational." The two Saturday games had an announced attendance of 4,511. Last year, the championship game "drew an announced crowd of 1,807." Increased attendance numbers "should only help Las Vegas as it seeks to host a Frozen Four" during the '23-26 cycle. But Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson said that hosting the event "wouldn't be the focus of the bid his organization is planning to submit." Christenson said that LVE plans to "spotlight Las Vegas as a destination; T-Mobile Arena, adjoining Toshiba Plaza and their proximity to hotel rooms; and his organization's track record of hosting events" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/5).
