Las Vegas’ NHL team will call Summerlin home for practice and business operations.
Black Knight Sports & Entertainment finalized a 20-year lease for property in Downtown Summerlin near Pavilion Center Drive and Griffith Peak Drive.
Team owner Bill Foley said the goal is to finish construction on the two-rink practice facility by mid-August 2017 in time for the start of the inaugural season.
The still unnamed team will play its home games at T-Mobile Arena, but use the Downtown Summerlin facility for practice and training.
"The NHL team generally speaking practices an hour and a half a day,” Foley said.
The goal according to the NHL’s newest owner is to build a local youth hockey program that would also use the two rinks for practice and games.
The ice would also be available to the public for adult leagues as well.
“It’s an honor for our area’s new NHL team to establish its practice facility in Downtown Summerlin where the community can easily connect with the team, as well as enjoy youth hockey, men's tournament hockey, figure skating and more,” said Kevin Orrock, president of Summerlin for The Howard Hughes Corporation.
The question on every fans mind, what will the team’s name be and what colors will players wear?
Foley said the team name has been picked, but they are still keeping it under wraps for a planned unveiling event.
Team leaders will talk with Adidas again next week as they finalize the team’s colors and logos.
“We've picked the logo, we are trying to tweak it and refine it," Foley said.
Fans will likely have to wait until Mid-November to see everything together.
Foley said it will take about six to eight weeks after a final decision is made to hold an event. That’s because the team wants to have hats, shirts and other merchandise available.
Foley acknowledged those wanting jerseys may have to wait a little longer.
When it comes to who will don the Las Vegas jerseys the team’s leadership is hard at work to make sure they make the best choices.
“Just about done hiring professional scouts as they prepare for the expansion draft," Foley said.
The owner said they still may have a few more amateur scout positions to fill ahead of the amateur draft next summer.
"I actually believe we are doing great.,” Foley said. “Especially on the hockey side."
On the business side, the team is still working to hire a president of business operations, which Foley said should happen in the next couple of weeks.
That isn’t stopping fans from buying tickets.
The team announced Monday it has received deposits on 16,000 season tickets, which represents a sellout. Work is now being done to convert those deposits to full purchases.
Foley said he is expecting a slight attrition, but not much. There is a waiting list for season tickets to manage that situation.
A small number of single game tickets will eventually go on sale as well.
