Way before the NHL announced a new franchise, critics wouldn’t stop bringing up home-ice advantage in Las Vegas… or a supposed lack there of. We’re not dumb, we know there will be other fans at the T-Mobile arena. Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict the impact, but I personally think it’s overblown, especially if the team is good. The NHL doesn’t seem all that concerned either. Forty-one home games will be hard for visiting fans to consistently take over. Eight games seems far more feasible. And you know what league plays eight home games?
Thankfully, Mark Davis and his terrible haircut are still a few years away. However, he’s the one who should really prepare himself for a weak home-field advantage. Even the ghost of Al Davis can look up the reaction around the country. NFL fans are anxious for the Raiders relocation. Good for the NFL, bad for the team. Right? Ha, that’s what critics said about Vegas hockey. However, the Golden Knights play 33 more home games than the Raiders. It’s a formula that could spell trouble for the relocated franchise.
Las Vegas native and Pro Bowl linebacker Brandon Marshall is all about relocation. Marshall plays for the Broncos, so a quick trip home is a bonus. That also means Denver fans are a quick trip away as well. Marshall tweeted out his Bronco pride and confidence his fans will travel to Las Vegas.
I know damn well Broncos fans would rather travel to Vegas than to Oakland anyday!You’ll have more fun, shorter travel,less expensive flight
— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshh54) January 14, 2017
Immediately, Marshall got hundreds of Twitter responses from Denver and other NFL fans. Not many are against the Oakland to Las Vegas swap.
@BMarshh54 hi! Bronco fan from CA here. Would defiantly take the trip to vegas than go to Oakland EVER again pic.twitter.com/Mf8vX7vecP
— babyspice✨ (@marrzzzzzz) January 14, 2017
@BMarshh54 hell yeah, grand junction to Vegas flights are 70-120$ round trip!
— Ricky Schroder (@RGSchroder) January 14, 2017
@BMarshh54 I would plan my annual trip out there around that game! you’d gotta imagine every game there would be like a home gm for away tms
— Danger Dean (@TheDangerDean) January 15, 2017
— Kat77 (@KatLinnebur) January 15, 2017
@BMarshh54 it’s gonna be like a home game for the Broncos now!! Lol
— Ryan Medina (@RyDogg72) January 14, 2017
As you can see, Broncos fans are vocal about traveling to Las Vegas. Many people from neighboring states take annual Vegas trips anyway, scheduling it around an NFL game will only add to their experience.
@BMarshh54 100% I am from So Cal, going be my annual Vegas trip. So excited about the possibility.
— Eric (@ecarpen) January 14, 2017
@BMarshh54 @themadfanatic for Utah-based Broncos fans, easiest drive in the NFL, easier to go to Las Vegas than to Denver anytime.
— Brad James (@BradfatherSpeak) January 14, 2017
@BMarshh54 vegas is only 4 hours away for me, I’d be able to see a Broncos game every year if that happens.
— Ian Rose (@Broncs27_Ian) January 14, 2017
It’s clear Las Vegas is a motivating factor for fans. They don’t want to travel to Oakland, it’s not Sin City. This could create large pockets of out-of-town fans at the new Vegas stadium. Home-field edge is also more important to an NFL team. One example would be last season’s San Jose Sharks. The Sharks were 18-20-3 at home and ended up being the Stanley Cup runner-up. Ranking 25th in home wins didn’t end up having much impact on them. To compare, the final four NFL teams are all incredibly successful at home. New England, Pittsburgh and Green Bay were 6-2 at home, while Atlanta was 5-3. The Raiders were 6-2 at home this season but the die-hards live close by. That’s a big commitment traveling south eight football games a year.
Marshall is a fan favorite and one hell of a player. He’s currently under contract but will be a UFA in 2021. Plus he’s already softening up, but only if they become the Las Vegas Raiders.
When the Raiders move to Vegas, I will no longer hate them. How could I? I’m from Vegas!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾 #702
— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshh54) January 14, 2017
For know, Marshall and out-of-town fans are forced to visit Oakland. Yeah, they won’t get mugged or anything like that.
@BMarshh54 and not get mugged at the game
— josh cantrell (@jcantrell12) January 15, 2017
**Think we also found ourselves a perfect podcast guest. What do you say Brandon?**
Rick Dames
Let’s remember that home ice in hockey has advantages beyond fan backing and crowd noise. Last line change before faceoffs (maybe 55 a game less iceing face offs) gives the home team a strategy advantage over a lot of events. This advantage could be even greater with an expansion team that might not have four terrific lines, maybe a top 6, and then a mucker/grinder line, and a shut down line. There is also the shoot out choice advantage, which I’m not really certain if that means anything
James
@Jason Pothier
‘Home-field edge is also more important to an NFL team. One example would be last season’s San Jose Sharks. The Sharks were 18-20-3 at home and ended up being the Stanley Cup runner-up. Ranking 25th in home wins didn’t end up having much impact on them.’
The Golden Knights need to establish a home-ice advantage. It would be considered good to play .500 ball on the road. I don’t have any statistics to back up my opinion, but I believe the Sharks were an anomaly. 18-20-3 at home, that’s not exactly how you draw it up
CaptainJohn
There is also an advantage on every face-off. The visiting team has to put their stick down first. I also believe in a loud pro-home team atmosphere, the home team gets an advantage in referee calls. I know it’s not supposed to happen, but the refs are only human. Just watch a Montreal Canadiens home game to see my point 😀
PhiSig150
I’m a die hard Broncos fan and hate the Raiders but I think you’re underestimating their fanbase. They travel well. My friends in LA already fly up for 2-3 games a year they will probably now go to 5-6 games now that they’re a 4 to 5 hour car ride away. The Raiders also have a pretty large fan base out here already that’s only bound to grow. Also you didn’t mention that there’s a lot of people that just don’t want to put up with the violence and other non-sense that seems to come hand in hand with Raider games. They’ll most likely be 15 to 20 minutes away from me and I still refuse to go see a Raider game ever gain (once was enough to last me a lifetime thank you very much). I just don’t see Charger, Broncos, and Chiefs fans being any more likely to go to the Black Hole now that’s in Las Vegas ( a small increase but not significant). Maybe they’ll get an uptick in east coast fans coming out but I’m pretty confident games will sell out (really don’t think Raiders being here is going to have much impact on the Knights success one way or the other) and it will mostly be people that look like they stumbled out of a gay pirate leather bar.
Willy702
Sharks are kind of a bad example on the home record front because they went 7-2 in the playoffs at home to get to the Finals, including 4-0 against the Preds in a pure home ice series between two of the best regular season road teams. Go figure.
Home records are funny that way, just reflect the close nature of hockey and how a few bounces here and there make a huge difference. I don’t think home ice will mean much. One interesting angle though which probably won’t amount to much but could be a factor is altitude. While its not Denver, 2,200 feet is a lot different for a high oxygen need game like hockey. Few will discuss it, but I think that is one factor that VGK can take some edge on especially if the opponent is in for the second of a back to back.