Ross D. Franklin / AP
A couple decked out in Golden Knights gear sits directly behind the Arizona Coyotes bench as head coach Rick Tocchet argues with a referee during the second period of a game against Vegas on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz.
Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 | 2 a.m.
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When the referee in last week’s Golden Knights game against the Coyotes ruled an Arizona goal was no good, cheers went up among the Vegas faithful, drowning out the boos from Coyotes fans.
It would have been a normal occurrence if the game was in Las Vegas, but it was at Gila River Arena in Arizona.
Golden Knights fans are quickly gaining the reputation as a group that travels well, and for some, part of the allure is escaping high ticket prices at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Those are believed to be second highest in the league.
“I could buy four tickets to come here cheaper than I could buy one in Vegas,” North Las Vegas resident Faye Fulton said before the game in Arizona. “I won’t take my kid to see a Knights game in Vegas. It’s way too expensive.”
At puck drop, the cheapest tickets for the Dec. 30 Coyotes game were $49 after fees on SeatGeek.com. Tickets for the previous day’s game in Los Angeles against the Kings were going for $66 each, and $48 could have gotten you into the Honda Center for Friday’s game against the Ducks.
Sunday’s Devils game at home, on the other hand, would have put you back at least $125 a seat.
“We’re sitting up there, but it’s $51 compared to $130,” said Las Vegas-area resident Steve Knott, pointing to upper decks of Staples Center before the game against the Kings.
The team’s last three road games have been against the Kings, Coyotes and Ducks — the three opponents against whom it is easiest for Vegas fans to drive to see.
Golden Knights fans made themselves heard during the anthem, spooking unsuspecting home fans during the customary “gave proof through the Knight” yell.
“We love going to the away games, especially when it’s close to Vegas,” said Brad Ellis, a Summerlin resident decked out in a gold jacket, hat and pants. He said tickets for the Kings game were about a quarter of the price of home games in Las Vegas.
“It makes it a lot easier of a decision to get good seats versus nosebleeds or something,” he said.
The Vegas players notice the support. Forward Jonathan Marchessault said the game against the Coyotes felt like a home game, and defenseman Nate Schmidt said he was floored by the number of Golden Knights jerseys he saw in the stands.
“To come out in warmups, I thought we were at T-Mobile,” Schmidt said.
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