Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Henderson OKs $60 million in bonds for arena

Henderson Pavilion

Wade Vandervort

An exterior view of the Henderson Pavilion, Thursday, March 5, 2020.

Updated Wednesday, April 22, 2020 | 5:14 p.m.

The Henderson City Council voted 4-1 today to approve $60 million in bonds to finance an arena that would house the Golden Knights’ new American Hockey League affiliate.

The project will transform the Henderson Pavilion into a 6,000-seat multipurpose facility that would serve as an arena for the minor league team.

“Now is the right time to be investing in the future of our economy,” Mayor Debra March said.

“We need to be investing in projects now that will help with the economic recovery and create jobs in Henderson. That is just what these bonds will do: help put people to work,” she said.

Today’s vote only approved funding. Approval for construction is expected to come at a future meeting.

The funding vote, however, didn’t come without pushback.

Councilman Dan Stewart suggested waiting six months to see how the economy shapes up before considering adding debt.

“If there is no immediate need for these bonds, why even consider the sale of them at this time?” Stewart said.

Most of the public comment was on his side, with about double the number of commenters opposed to the bonds compared to those in favor.

A Change.org petition opposing the funding got 1,846 signatures.

Those in favor cited the need for jobs and the prestige that comes with hosting a professional sports team.

Councilman John Marz said it would be “fiscally irresponsible if we don’t move forward with authorizing the ability of our city management to issue those bonds when and if the time comes.”

The Golden Knights announced Feb. 6 their intention to buy the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage and relocate the team to Henderson. A week later, the Golden Knights announced the plans for the Henderson Pavilion arena.

The new team does not have a name yet, but Golden Knights owner Bill Foley said it will include “Henderson.”

The team will play at the Orleans Arena starting next season and move into the arena when it’s finished. The team will practice at be headquartered at Lifeguard Arena in downtown Henderson. The facility should be completed later this year.

The Golden Knights have been affiliated with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves since Vegas’ inception three years ago.

Tickets for the AHL team will be significantly cheaper than for the Golden Knights, whose tickets on the secondary market often rank near the top of the league in prices. Season tickets for the AHL team will start at $10 a game.

The new AHL team is not the first minor league hockey team in the valley, following in the steps of the Las Vegas Thunder (1993-99) and Las Vegas Wranglers (2003-14).