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One of the hottest tickets in Las Vegas isn’t, well, hot – at least temperature wise. It’s on ice.
We’re talking about the National Hockey League’s newest team, the Vegas Golden Knights, which has drawn capacity crowds since its first season in 2017. Make that over-capacity. The Knights have proven so phenomenally successful, standing-room-only tickets at the city’s new T-Mobile Arena push average attendance to the 106-percent mark.
There’s no doubt about the skill level of a team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals its first year. But a Knights game is about more than hockey. It delivers razzle-dazzle in spades. There’s a sword fight at center ice, archers join the battle from above the crowd and other knight-themed elements add to the pizazz. Vegas showgirls distract the opposing team during warm-ups, and music blasts through the building at near-Metallica levels. And there’s a hockey game, too.
“We take very much an event-based approach,” says Golden Knights president Kerry Bubolz. “What (fans) are going to see is an entertainment experience that – whether you like hockey or not – matches the other great events and entertainment on the Strip. When you think about Cirque du Soleil and Britney Spears, we’ve got some of the best (entertainment) residencies in the world here. We have to match that.”
Consider this hockey done Vegas style – or, perhaps, Cirque du Hockey – at a venue surrounded by all sorts of other attractions, from enticing eateries to music venues, public art, shops and, of course, casinos.
Here are just a few spots to dine, play and stay, while you’re in town for a game.
EAT: Outside the arena
The Park Las Vegas is the new dining and entertainment district right outside T-Mobile Arena and – no surprise – it’s absolutely hopping on game night, when fans line up at Beerhaus, Sake Rok and other hot spots.
For our money, the most enticing of The Park’s five eateries is Bruxie, which bills itself as the purveyor of “the original fried chicken and waffle sandwich.” Go with the Holy Chicken ($13.50), which combines sweet maple-glazed chicken, crispy applewood smoked bacon, cheddar, sriracha and an egg done sunny-side up.
Another close-by spot for a quick, filling bite is Greenberg’s Deli, a Jewish deli nestled among the sidewalk-dining spots in New York-New York’s Village Street Eateries. Greenberg’s serves up some seriously good and seriously big sandwiches. Split the New York Skyhigh ($12.95) — corned beef, pastrami, turkey, coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing — with a friend.
EAT: Inside the arena
Running late and don’t have time to stop for a bite before entering the arena? The hockey venue has a nice array of concessions, topped by Pink’s, SoCal’s legendary hot-dog stand. You’ll find burgers and handspun shakes at Shake Shack, brisket at Rollin’ Smoke Barbecue and sushi burritos and poke bowls at Tail and Fin.
STAY: Near the arena
The arena, which opened in 2016, is located between New York-New York and the Park MGM casino hotels, two convenient places to stay. But there are many other options a short walk or cab ride away. We like to stay at the Tropicana, which is kitty corner to New York-New York and boasts an old-school Vegas vibe that’s increasingly hard to find on the Strip. It’s not hard to imagine Sammy, Dean and Ol’ Blue Eyes hanging out here back in the day.
SEE: A show
It’s easy to combine music and sports on a road trip like this. Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena has become a marquee stop for many artists, including country music legend George Strait, who will be performing Feb. 1 and 2. The KISS farewell tour hits town on Feb. 15, and Justin Timberlake will be bringing “SexyBack” again on March 8, to name just a few.
And nearly every hotel on the Strip has something cooking. Britney Spears’ new “Domination” residency, set to open in February at the Park Theater at Park MGM Las Vegas, has been put on hold while the singer cares for her ailing father. But you can catch Lady Gaga’s “Enigma” tour at the Park Theater, which has dates set through 2019. It’s a hot ticket, for sure.
If You Go
Vegas Golden Knights: The National Hockey League’s newest team has home games scheduled through April 4. Find the game schedule and ticket information at www.nhl.com/goldenknights. T-Mobile Arena, at 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., offers concerts, as well as hockey. Find out more more at www.t-mobilearena.com.
Bruxie: Open from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and until midnight Fridays and Saturdays at 3782 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; bruxie.com.
New York-New York: Rooms start at $109. Greenberg’s Deli is open from 9 a.m. to 10 pm. daily. 3790 S. Las Vegas Blvd., www.newyorknewyork.com
Park MGM Las Vegas: Rooms start at $108. 3770 S Las Vegas Blvd.; www.parkmgm.com
Tropicana: Rooms start at $139. 3801 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; www.troplv.com.