Matt Helfst waves his Golden Knights flag prior to a game against the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena, Monday, March 1, 2021.
Tuesday, March 2, 2021 | 2 a.m.
Matt Helfst arrived at T-Mobile Arena five hours ahead of the 7 p.m. game time Monday to start waving his Golden Knights flag.
The black and gold flag, attached to a pole that expands up to 17 feet, were visible from blocks away, seesawing in the air as fans approached the arena.
Helfst is not a team employee — just a superfan who never misses a game.
And Monday’s game against the Minnesota Wild was one of the most significant in team history. Up to 2,600 fans were allowed to attend the first Golden Knights home game with supporters in 363 days, and a milestone for Las Vegas in its slow and calculated reopening from closures forced by the coronavirus pandemic.
Having Helfst front and center sure made it seem like an ordinary night at the Fortress. We’ve sure missed the ordinary.
“The Golden Knights came to our city when we needed them the most,” Helfst said in referencing the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Strip a few days before the franchise made its home debut.
“They uplifted our city and united us. This is my way to show my love back to the team.”
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There’s no denying the love affair between the players and fans. Take the warm-ups.
At 6:30 p.m., the familiar sound of bell tolling loudly inside the arena brought the players onto the ice for their pregame routine. Fans greeted them with loud applause. The Knights reciprocated with fan-favorite Ryan Reaves clapping his hands, and many of the players slapping their sticks against the board to acknowledge the fans.
“We’re excited to see the players, and they are excited to see us,” fan Chris Allen said. “This feels amazing.”
Vegas winger Keegan Kolesar acknowledged as much between the first and second periods, saying, “We have the fans here. They give us extra energy.”
Of course, the experience inside the Fortress wasn’t exactly the same because of virus protocols. There was a wellness check to enter the arena, a tiered-exit strategy to limit face-to-face interaction, and fans of each section were limited to one restroom and concession stand.
Yet, despite the mandate to wear a mask, the “Go Knights Go” chants were loud and profound — so powerful to hear.
Aside from wearing a San Jose Sharks sweater, the fans would have obliged any protocol request to see their favorite team. Season-ticket holders paid about $150 per ticket, most credited out of their account.
Renee Terrell and Tammy Fountain are such loyal supporters that they traveled to Phoenix last month for a Vegas road game with the Arizona Coyotes.
Once Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak cleared the way last week for fans to attend games, many were determined to be at the first one. The franchise is selling tickets for the seven home games in March, but is limiting fans to one game each so that all season-ticket holders have the opportunity to attend.
“We love this team because it’s Vegas Born,” Fountain said. “We love this team because of everything they’ve done for the community. It’s our turn to support them.”
Being at the game with our “Golden Family” had that feeling of regularity that has been desperately missed. As anthem singer Carnell Johnson delivered another beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” he paused to allow fans to yell, “Knights” just like old times.
“This team has been great for the community when our spirits are down,” Helfst said.
Although COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed and the positivity rate is the lowest it’s been in five months, Las Vegas is still in the infancy of its recovery.
But sports are back — at 15% fan capacity now, and then gradually increasing until all 17,500 seats for hockey at T-Mobile are again full.
The Strip also will eventually return to packed casino floors, showrooms and restaurants because, like the Golden Knights, nothing beats the entertainment provided in the resort corridor.
The Golden Knights, like they did in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 1 shooting, are again leading the way in bringing our city back.
In you, their loyal fans, they sure have a great support system. That’s everyone from the guy passionately waving his flag on game days to Terrell, who loves Mark Stone so much that she mimics his hairstyle — hair down to her shoulders with curls — to Kolesar, who said, “It’s huge to have (fans) here. One step closer to normal.”
