Golden Knights announce AHL team will play in new Henderson arena

Henderson will be home to a new minor league hockey arena, Vegas Golden Knights president Kerry Bubolz said Thursday.

The announcement came at Henderson’s annual state of the city address. Bubolz told attendees in a Green Valley Ranch Resort ballroom that the 6,000-seat arena would be built on the site of the Henderson Pavilion at the intersection of Paseo Verde and Green Valley parkways.

“In partnership with the city, this facility will give our fans the same electric jolt of the excitement and experience that you see at the fortress for Golden Knights games on the Strip,” Bubolz said.

Knights owner Bill Foley mentioned the team’s name would include “Henderson.” No announcement came on what the team name would be, but Foley confirmed last week that Silver Knights was one of the top options.

Pyrotechnics sparkled behind Bubolz, Foley and Henderson Mayor Debra March after the announcement, which came at the end of the mayor’s roughly 45-minute recap of Henderson’s successes. March was escorted to the stage by the Golden Knights drum line and Chance, the team’s Gila monster mascot.

March told the Las Vegas Review-Journal after her speech that half the arena will be paid for with public money. She said the city could pay up to $40 million.

Assistant City Manager Robert Herr said a timeline for completion of the arena is not finalized. City officials stopped short of saying the arena would be ready for the team’s second season.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do on roadways and traffic and making improvements in the area as well,” Herr said.

Henderson spokeswoman Kathleen Richards said the existing pavilion would not be razed, but that much of what is already there would be enclosed. The new facility also would be available for cultural events such as plays and concerts year-round.

The Golden Knights announced the purchase of San Antonio’s AHL team last week.

On Wednesday, Bubolz announced the team would play its home games at the Orleans Arena until the new arena is ready.

The minor league team will be headquartered and will practice at Lifeguard Arena on Water Street in Henderson. The arena was approved by city officials last year and will be built partially with public money. It is scheduled to be complete this fall.

Bubolz said at Thursday’s event that the AHL team has more than 5,300 ticket deposits.

“We’ll look to fill the house every single night,” he said.

Contact Blake Apgar at bapgar@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5298. Follow @blakeapgar on Twitter.