The odds of the puck dropping at center ice on the Strip for the 2017-2018 NHL season seem to be increasing.
The NHL recently announced it was accepting expansion-franchise applications. And Las Vegas has shown the most interest of the four cities, including Seattle, Quebec City, and Toronto, competing for a possible franchise.
There is even the shiny new AEG, MGM Resorts International arena set to open next year.
But, will hockey work in our desert? Or, are we destined to be the next Phoenix, where hockey has struggled and the franchise could leave.
In his latest From the PressBox column, Las Vegas Sun sports editor Ray Brewer says if hockey fails here, it would be a black eye for our city.
His colleague Case Keefer, is a bit more optimistic.
"My (optimism) comes from the ticket drive they've done," Keefer told KNPR's State of Nevada. "There is no promise of a team and they opened a season ticket drive three or four months ago, and they've sold in excess of 13,000 season tickets, which is pretty remarkable to me."
Keefer said it's a sign we're headed in the right direction. But, Keefer cuationed any NHL team in Las Vegas would need to win.
"There might be a problem is the team struggles for several years," he said.
Case Keefer, sports writer, Las Vegas Sun