LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — "Vegas with the slot machine is the best thing ever!" said one Vegas Golden Knights fan on X.
VEGAS WITH THE SLOT MACHINE IS THE BEST THING EVER! THE BANNER IS INCREDIBLE! VEGAS LFG BABY!
— 🏆 VGK_non_GM (@VGK_Dawg) October 11, 2023
It was a moment at Opening Knight for both Vegas Golden Knights players and fans as their Stanley Cup Championship banner unveiled from a slot machine.
It was a Vegas way to celebrate a win.
The energy from the crowd carried as the puck dropped early 8 p.m. through Jack Eichel's score in the third period. The Vegas Golden Knights performed as fans predicted.
"It's the start of warmups... WARMUPS," said our sports reporter Johnny Resendiz on X. "This place is already loud."
It's the start of warmups......WARMUPS, and this place is already loud. Gonna be barn burner at the Fortress. #Vegasborn
— Johnny Resendiz (@JohnnyResendiz5) October 11, 2023
The preseason was not clean for the Vegas Golden Knights, but the team delivered a show for their home opener at T-Mobile Arena.
"Missed all the preseason games due to surgery," said Dianne West on X. "Not missing our home opener and the raising of our Stanley Cup banner!"
Missed all the preseason games due to surgery. Not missing our home opener and the raising of our Stanley Cup banner! Let’s get this road to another Cup started boys! #VegasBorn #VGK #GoldenKnights #RealmUnited #GoldenAge pic.twitter.com/Qjxl3lxqVE
— Dianne West (@dkvawest) October 11, 2023
Before puck drop, Toshiba Plaza held many festivities for fans. Some were able to get gear signed by the team at the gold carpet.
Your defending Stanley Cup Champions are on the gold carpet 🏒😎 The team is at T-Mobile Arena ahead of their championship banner ceremony. Watch it live: https://t.co/zvg6oHUy8W pic.twitter.com/GSKzNWCfPW
— KTNV | Channel 13 News Las Vegas (@KTNV) October 10, 2023
One thing is for sure, nothing made the fans and crowd more emotional than seeing the banner roll out after Captain Mark Stone got a Stanley Cup "jackpot" during the ceremony.
An electrifying moment.
— KTNV | Channel 13 News Las Vegas (@KTNV) October 11, 2023
The Vegas Golden Knights raised their Stanley Cup Championship banner Opening Knight 🏆
📸 credit: AP
Relive the game: https://t.co/zvg6oHU0jo pic.twitter.com/XOMhlb5DNh
"No, no. I'm not misty-eyed at all. Six years to the day it all began," said one fan on X. "A city forever changed."
No, no. I'm not misty-eyed at all. Six years to the day it all began, banner raised and a city forever changed. Woof. That hit me so much differently than I expected. Right in the feels.#VGK #VegasBorn
— The Reverend KFidds (@KFidds) October 11, 2023
It was a truly emotional night for most day-one fans. We remember former player Deryk Engelland made a heartfelt speech on October 10, 2017, for the victims of the 1 October mass shooting.
Opening Knight: Then ➡️ Now
— KTNV | Channel 13 News Las Vegas (@KTNV) October 11, 2023
Forever #VegasStrong 💛 pic.twitter.com/GZWRZH6qJ9
"Both emotional, for very different reasons," commented one fan on our Facebook post.
The Vegas Golden Knights play again on Thursday without Brett Howden, as he's on a two-game suspension for hitting Seattle's Brandon Tanev.
WHERE TO WATCH: Vegas 34 launches as the official broadcast partner of the Vegas Golden Knights
Opinions vary, but it's safe to say fans are excited to see how the Vegas Golden Knights play next.
And no doubt very happy that the Vegas golden knights won last night
— david taylor (@IcemanDavid2k10) October 11, 2023
Did I cry all the tears during the banner raising?
— 🏆-VGK-Misfits to Champions-2023🏆 (@LvChefMel) October 11, 2023
Yes, yes I did! #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/MGTEZPhoXF
im gonna be very brave and say it but the #vgk banner is ugly and the slot machine thingy was dumb
— sarah (@shes_the_worst) October 11, 2023
@GoldenKnights @VGK_PR @FerraroTyler19 @TMobileArena The way the banners were handed out tonight was a mess.The exit was blocked and half the arena was still exiting and they were out. I’m sorry I missed out, but I respect the team enough to stay to the end. Do better.
— Shalom (@ShalomStephens) October 11, 2023
This. Such a special journey that started with sadness, bolstered with hope, healed by unity and celebrated as a city...
— The Reverend KFidds (@KFidds) October 11, 2023
Tonight's banner raising covers over the loss, the fear, the sadness, and the anger.#VGK #VegasBorn #VegasStrong https://t.co/bXiMfPT4fw
Okay this is the coolest and most insane banner raising I have ever seen. 100% Vegas though. #VGK #NHL
— Darren Cohen (@_DarrenCohen) October 11, 2023
