Knights’ new Lifeguard Arena nearly complete in Henderson
A group of junior Golden Knights players made their way into Lifeguard Arena in Henderson on Monday afternoon, excitement evident on their faces.
All parties involved feel just like those 12-year-olds do about the soon-to-be-completed 120,000-square-foot hockey facility, built in partnership with Henderson, which contributed $15.15 million toward the nearly $26 million project.
“Henderson, specifically, man they’re a proud bunch,” said Darren Eliot, vice president of hockey programming and facility operations for the Knights. “They are proud of their city, and they’re really, really excited about this project … I think it’s going to be a hit.”
The building features two NHL-size sheets of ice, one dubbed the Vegas Golden Knights rink and featuring the Knights’ logo, and the other the Silver Knights rink, as that’s where the organization’s recently purchased American Hockey League franchise will practice. Both rinks will be open for public use.
The arena takes elements from City National Arena in Summerlin, where the Golden Knights practice, but includes subtle additions to give the similarly laid-out building a unique feel.
The arenas’ seating areas are slightly different, with the deck above the bleachers featuring counter space lining the entirety where fans can set their food, drinks, laptops or anything else. The deck itself is also an upgrade, as it will allow for more fans to take in the action when seating is at capacity.
“They’ll sit 350 (at each rink) just like City National Arena, but we have a big standing room, too,” Eliot said. “So we can probably get 500-600 people in here quite comfortably.”
One similarity between Lifeguard and City National arenas is the ice plant. The $3.1 million plant is an eco-chilled system, which all the heating, ventilation and air conditioning in the building runs off. With it operating off a single system, there are more natural air draws from the outside, allowing more fresh air into the building.
“It makes sense because we have ice in here 50 weeks a year,” Eliot said.
Lifeguard Arena will feature a McKenzie River Pizza restaurant, a Public Works Coffee Bar and a team store dubbed The Livery. The restaurant and coffee shop will be completed later, as the coronavirus pandemic delayed those two elements coming online when the facility fully opens next month.
It was built on the former space of the Henderson Convention Center, so the building features multiple meeting space areas. Those can be booked for private events, or used during hockey tournaments and for city meetings (Henderson officials have an allotted amount of time to utilize the meeting space at no charge).
Outside, a plaza is being constructed that will feature a 46-foot video screen on the side of Lifeguard Arena, where watch parties for Golden Knights and Raiders games and other events could take place, Eliot said.
“It butts up to the side of the building where there will be a big screen and lots of opportunities for watch parties and make it a special venue,” Eliot said. “It’s all going to tie together nicely with the party pavilion, Water Street out front and here you’ll have the Lifeguard Arena. They’ll all tie together.”
The facility is currently allowing only youth hockey and figure skating practice, but the plan is to have the arena fully open with COVID-19 regulations in place in November.
For the Silver Knights, there are team offices, multiple equipment rooms, a 10,000-square-foot locker room, a gym, a rehabilitation room, cleaning facilities, a meal room and a video room.
It will be about 6 miles from the under-construction, up-to-$84 million, 6,000-seat Henderson Events Center, where the Silver Knights are set to play beginning in 2022.
Eliot said the Silver Knights will be the envy of other AHL franchises.
“We’re No. 1; there’s no way (anyone’s facilities are better),” he said. “The Ontario Reign have a great setup with the Los Angeles Kings, but it’s the Kings’ facility. This is the Henderson Silver Knights’ facility. To me that’s unparalleled.”
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.