Inside the Fortress
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is just like The Ralph, except more so, as UND players, coaches and fans will discover
Game Day at the Ralph is hard to beat, as anyone who has attended a home UND hockey game in recent years knows.
But Game Day at The Fortress sounds like it comes close. What fun that will be for UND players, coaches and fans, as they make their way to T-Mobile Arena this afternoon, and find their vision, hearing and other senses overwhelmed by the full Las Vegas experience.
In the hockey world, the history of T-Mobile Arena, nicknamed The Fortress, sounds like it parallels the history of Las Vegas itself. Here’s why: Las Vegas in 1950 had only about 25,000 people; that’s less than half the population of Grand Forks. Today, the Vegas metro area numbers some 2.4 million residents, meaning the civic latecomer – Las Vegas as a city was incorporated as recently as 1911 – has surpassed many older cities in size, and in little more than a century has become the 29th largest metro area in America.
Similarly, the Vegas Golden Knights have nothing like the hockey histories of the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings or other storied teams. The Golden Knights, after all, became an NHL franchise (and started playing in T-Mobile Arena) in 2017, or fewer than 10 years ago.
But there was no “paying their dues” for the Golden Knights, no period of “learning the ropes” or showing deference to the senior legends of the league. Instead, the high desert team skated to an immediate breakaway in the formerly high north sport: “The Golden Knights qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs in their first four seasons, and reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first season,” Wikipedia notes.
That made the team “one of the few expansion franchises to experience immediate success in North American professional sports.
“Their 13 playoff wins enroute to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final are the most for a team during their inaugural postseason run,” Wikipedia continues.
“In 2023, the club returned to the Stanley Cup Final and won their first Stanley Cup championship, defeating the Florida Panthers in five games.”
Similarly, although T-Mobile Arena opened as recently as 2016, it already has been the scene of two Stanley Cup finals, one NHL All-Star Weekend, one U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game , hundreds of Golden Knights games – and now, one NCAA Frozen Four, an event in which the UND Fighting Hawks are poised to take center stage.
Then there is the Game Day atmosphere. Here are a few comments to describe the showmanship, taken from Reddit forums and other sources.
Including The New York Times: “T-Mobile Arena has quickly built a reputation as one of the loudest buildings in the NHL,” the Times reported in 2021.
“With Las Vegas showgirls parading around the glass in feathered costumes during warm-ups, a medieval castle on the south end of the arena and the ultra-loud music, the Golden Knights’ home is nothing if not unique.”
The loudness makes the arena such a standout that the Golden Knights play simulated crowd noise during practices, the Times reported.
Here’s an overview of the atmosphere, which Google’s AI engine describes as “a high-energy, party-like spectacle on the Las Vegas Strip.” Key aspects include:
- Toshiba Plaza Party, which is right next to the arena and features a DJ, the Golden Aces dance team, Knight Line drum line, and team mascot Chance;
- A themed pregame show inside the arena, featuring a medieval sword fight, drumbots, and a massive knight’s helmet that the players skate out from beneath (“It’s Knight Time!” the announcer bellows.)
- Pre-game Parade: Fans march into the arena with the drumline and performers before the game.
On the Reddit forum titled “Is it True T-Mobile Arena Aka The Fortress one of the best fan Experiences?”, fans have this to say:
- “Absolutely. I’ve been to a lot of sports venues and the Knights are hands down the best I’ve ever experienced.”
- “Yes. Did I mention hotels are 15 feet away? No DUI, no stopping the party, no rain.” (By the way, if you happen to be staying at one of the more distant hotels, the Las Vegas Monorail system will deliver you to within walking distance of The Fortress.)
- “I’m a Dallas fan and have been to Colorado, Vancouver, San Jose, and Vegas. In my experience as an out of town fan rooting for a visiting team Vegas is top notch and definitely the best experience I’ve had out of the bunch.”
- “It’s loud as hell, and the theatrics can’t be beat. My team when they play there … can be beat.
- “Vegas hockey is exactly what you would expect. It’s showy, flashy and new age hockey. If you are from an original 6 market and like the old school game feel, it may not be for you. If you are looking for an exciting, out of the traditional box experience, it is fun.”
As others have noted, when Ralph Engelstad bestowed Grand Forks with a $100 million hockey palace, the UND alum and Imperial Palace & Casino owner made sure to outfit the facility with exceptional Las Vegas dazzle and flash. So while the UND players and fans at T-Mobile Arena today are no strangers to indoor fireworks, Jumbotron screens, rock-concert decibel levels and fountains of sparks, we’re confident they’ll have a spectacular time in Vegas, where that kind of showmanship began.
Go UND!
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Quick facts about T-Mobile Arena:
Opening: April 6, 2016
Owner: T-Mobile Arena, owned by AEG and MGM Resorts International
Operator: MGM Resorts International
Functions: Multipurpose Entertainment venue available to host NBA and NHL teams, concerts, boxing, mixed martial arts, award shows and other major events
Project Cost: $375 million
Site Acreage: Approximately 16 acres
Events: 100 to 150 annually
Seating Capacities:
- Boxing/UFC: 20,000
- Center Stage Concert: 19,500 – 20,000
- Hockey: 17,500
- Basketball: 18,000
Amenities:
- 44 Luxury Suites
- Eight Event Level Suites
- Two dedicated VIP Entrances
- Premium balconies on all VIP and public levels with views to the plaza, park and strip
- Multiple locker facilities, premium dressing rooms, green room and multipurpose spaces to accommodate a variety of sports and entertainment events
- A 75,000-square-foot loading dock, staging, storage, and other facilities to accommodate major events including six truck docks
