A Downtown Las Vegas casino recently formed a partnership with the first major professional sports team in Nevada.
Indeed, the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL) and The D Las Vegas have just signed a six-year downtown sponsorship deal. This agreement establishes The D as the official Downtown Las Vegas casino partner of the new NHL hockey club.
It’s yet to be seen what exactly this entails. However, the two groups assure that it will encompass a series of activities and events at the Nevada casino. This fall, the Golden Knights will begin their first ever NHL season.
Vegas Golden Knights events and activities
The D will host the following events and activities:
- A yearly Fan Fest during the offseason
- Every Vegas Golden Knights game has special watch parties.
- Appearances of players at The D
- A pop-up shop selling official merchandise on the property.
City and NHL officials excited for hockey season
During a press conference at the Fremont Street Experience last week, the team and the casino disclosed some details. The event had notable attendees such as D Las Vegas CEO Derek Stevens, Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz, and Coach Gerard Gallant.
Stevens expressed his hope that the Vegas Golden Knights will influence youth hockey.
As a native of Detroit, a renowned hockey city, I’ve witnessed the significant impact Mike Ilitch’s Little Caesars Arena and Pete Karmanos’ Compuware AAA Hockey have had on our community and youth sports. I aspire to bring that same positive influence to Las Vegas.
Good news for the team and its city
Mayor Goodman was a strong advocate for bringing hockey to Las Vegas. Furthermore, she is confident that this alliance will benefit not only the city, but also the casino and the newly established NHL franchise in Las Vegas.
During my time in Las Vegas, I’ve encountered numerous investors, but Derek Stevens stands out among them all. He’s always quick and passionate when he commits to any project. His six-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights is a tremendous honor for our community. We’re extremely excited to have the team in our city.
Bubolz stated that he views Downtown Las Vegas as a location where the fan base of the Vegas Golden Knights can grow.
“He expressed, “We’re thrilled about this partnership with Derek and the D Las Vegas. Each time I hear him talk about Downtown Las Vegas, my enthusiasm for working with this city area escalates.”
Vegas’ first major professional sports team
In June last year, the Vegas Golden Knights ownership group was given the expansion franchise by the NHL. This marked the first time a major professional sports league introduced a team in Las Vegas. The team is set to kick off their play in the 2017-18 NHL season at the T-Mobile Arena, located at the southern tip of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Vegas Golden Knights are expected to fill their roster through free agency and an expansion draft, which will take place in Las Vegas this week. Subsequently, the team will embark on its first season as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.
The D in Downtown Las Vegas
The D, a 629-room hotel and casino, is situated on the eastern tip of the Fremont Street Experience. This establishment features a sizable 42,000-square-foot casino, spread over two gaming floors, housing over 1,000 slot machines and 22 table games. Additionally, it serves as the venue for the William Hill Sports Book.
Actually, the D was known as the Sundance Hotel from 1980 to 1987, and then as Fitzgeralds Hotel and Casino from 1987 to 2012. Once it became the D, a comprehensive renovation was carried out across the entire property, costing $22 million.
Image sourced from 4kclips / Shutterstock.com
