Las Vegas set to launch its own ice hockey team

Las Vegas set to launch its own ice hockey team

LOS ANGELES - There's ice in the American desert -- Las Vegas will be the home of a National Hockey League expansion team next October. And the move could spark a revolution in US sports.

There's ice in the American desert -- Las Vegas will be the home of a National Hockey League expansion team next October

The naming of the team on Tuesday will be a new stage in the campaign by casino capital -- long shunned by American sports leagues -- against fears that any links to gambling could taint the sense of fairness and integrity of results.

But with Anschutz Entertainment Group and MGM Resorts joining forces to build a new 20,000-seat arena (17,500 for the NHL) on the Las Vegas Strip, the lure of neon lights and potential riches was too much to ignore.

"I never believed there was a taboo about Las Vegas," said the city's mayor, Carolyn G. Goodman. "Gambling is everywhere. Some people are provincial and don't want to change the status quo. But you have to get with the times. Pro sports are a natural here."

The NHL sold businessman Bill Foley an expansion club for Las Vegas for $500 million (470 million euros) last June. The new team, whose colors and logo will also be unveiled Tuesday, already has 14,000 season ticket holders.

Desert Knights is a favorite for the name with Golden Knights a contender as well, but don't hold out hope for Slot Machines or One-Armed Bandits.

Leagues are overcoming fears over sports gambling influencing results despite fears stoked as recently as 2007, when NBA referee Tim Donaghy was revealed to have wagered on games in which he officiated. That was the same year the NBA staged its All-Star Game in Las Vegas.

Smaller sports leagues have Las Vegas teams, including the North American Soccer League and Arena Football League as well as developmental baseball and ice hockey circuits.

"We don't worry about the integrity of our game," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "We think this is a tremendously exciting opportunity not just for Las Vegas but for the league as well."

- Welcome Las Vegas Raiders? -

NFL owners are looking at the possibilities offered by "Sin City" as well, with a population of 2.1 million people and 42.3 million visitors last year.

The Oakland Raiders, the only NFL team still playing in a stadium shared with a Major League Baseball club, had hoped to be approved for relocation to Los Angeles earlier this year but were denied.

The Raiders might yet have the chance to look at Los Angeles if the San Diego Chargers turn down the opportunity to join the LA Rams in a new stadium project, the Raiders have in recent months talked to civic leaders in Las Vegas about the chances of constructing a new 65,000-seat retractable roof NFL stadium.

"I think Las Vegas is one of the real crown jewels of communities in the United States" said Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, back in May.

"For me, I think that certainly the fact that Las Vegas has a gambling aspect to it is far overshadowed by the entertainment value, if you will, the family appeal that you have, the convention appeal."

Former England football international David Beckham says a new climate-controled stadium would open the door for the world's top football clubs to add Las Vegas to their destination list for pre-season training tours, as well as a Major League Soccer expansion team.

"To bring a great organization like the Raiders is incredible, but it's bigger than that," Beckham said. "It's about the MLS coming here. It's about bringing in the biggest European teams like Manchester United."

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