Before You Die, You Need To Bet The Over At A Vegas Golden Knights Game And More!
James
Golden Knights Game
It’s Las Vegas! As I was making my way to the ice hockey game, I almost ran into Lady Gaga herself. Three cities in the United States make sense of this grouping of words.
When the Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken squared off in Vegas on Tuesday night, the NHL’s two most recent newcomers were pitted against each other.
To be honest, I believed it would be silly not to be in the building for this historic hockey event while in Sin City for the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup at The Summit Club this week. The ticket might also be deducted from my company’s coffers, and I’m considering writing a blog post about it. So, here we are.
I decided to take an Uber at 6:45 p.m. from my hotel, which is only 10 minutes away from T-Mobile Arena because the puck drop was scheduled for 7:15 p.m. PT. Then again, Vegas is a place where everything goes quickly and seamlessly.
A few minutes before 7 p.m., my Uber driver noticed that the tinted windows and the motorcade behind her indicated that a high-ranking official was in the car next to us. We both exclaimed, “is that… Lady Gaga?!?” at the same time.
On Thursday Gaga will begin her three-night Jazz & Piano show at Caesars Palace in Vegas. I don’t know why she was here so early, but I’m guessing she was either practicing or going to the game. I’m at a loss. I couldn’t give a fig about it. Witnessed Gaga in person.
What on earth are we still talking about? The hockey game? Oh, ok. It was the simplest athletic event experience I’ve ever had. 15 seconds later, I was through security, and my ticket was checked by a member of the staff.
There was just one escalator to get to my section instead of the usual 19 escalators in arenas and stadiums in the New York/New Jersey area that function as a maze. For about $17, I was able to get a Bud Light in under a minute.
Before the 15-minute countdown to puck drop had even begun, I had already taken my seat. Getting to a 7 p.m. game in New York City at 6:45 p.m. from a 10-minute walk from the arena or stadium would be a miracle.
For the game, expect nothing short of the Vegas Golden Knights in-game experience you’ve come to expect.
There’s no way you can go to the game and not see the pregame show. Rave-like, nightclub-like and hockey-like all at once. These eyes have never seen anything like the Kraken footage that has been circulating on the internet.
Soon after this, the Knights’ helmet comes down from the rafters and the players come through it while fans wave those glow sticks around in unison. It’s truly a scene.
The national anthem, which features the entire audience (called the Medieval Maniacs) yelling “KNIGHTS” during the “provided proof through the night” line, and the cranking of the horn are the two final issues to attend to.
When the hockey game finally begins, you’re left with a strange feeling of insignificance after witnessing what you just did.
When the Knights score first, everything changes. As an over-bettor, I’m thrilled to see them take a 2-0 lead in the second half. After a while, the individuals sitting next to me began to wonder aloud if I was alone in the room.
Yes, I was, and they saw it as a major accomplishment. Suddenly, I had a few companions on my trek, making it less difficult for me to be alone.
3-0 Knights in the second period thanks to a goal from Max Pacioretty, who has now scored twice in as many periods. A Krakens supporter in the row in front of me requests, “Just one goal, please.”
11 minutes and 32 seconds into the second, a goal eventually finds the back of the net, prompting the Kraken fan to Google the goal’s scorer. That’s what it’s like to be on an expansion club. Ryan Donato, to be precise.
The next two goals by Seattle tied the game at 3-3 with little over 12 minutes to go (cashing the over!) and provided the fans with the suspenseful third period they craved. Just when it seemed like Vegas couldn’t hold on any longer, they did just that and won 4-3 on Opening Night.
The national anthem, which features the entire audience (called the Medieval Maniacs) yelling “KNIGHTS” during the “provided proof through the night” line, and the cranking of the horn are the two final issues to attend to.
When the hockey game finally begins, you’re left with a strange feeling of insignificance after witnessing what you just did.
When the Knights score first, everything changes. As an over-bettor, I’m thrilled to see them take a 2-0 lead in the second half. After a while, the individuals sitting next to me began to wonder aloud if I was alone in the room.
Yes, I was, and they saw it as a major accomplishment. Suddenly, I had a few companions on my trek, making it less difficult for me to be alone.
3-0 Knights in the second period thanks to a goal from Max Pacioretty, who has now scored twice in as many periods.
A Krakens supporter in the row in front of me requests, “Just one goal, please.” 11 minutes and 32 seconds into the second, a goal eventually finds the back of the net, prompting the Kraken fan to Google the goal’s scorer. That’s what it’s like to be on an expansion club. Ryan Donato, to be precise.
The next two goals by Seattle tied the game at 3-3 with little over 12 minutes to go (cashing the over!) and provided the fans with the suspenseful third period they craved. Just when it seemed like Vegas couldn’t hold on any longer, they did just that and won 4-3 on Opening Night.