On Saturday, a Stanley Cup victory parade and rally will be held in Las Vegas to celebrate the Vegas Golden Knights’ first-ever NHL championship. Tens of thousands of fans, potentially even more, are expected to gather along the Las Vegas Strip for the event. Las Vegas police are preparing for a crowd of up to 100,000 people, with viewing areas along Las Vegas Boulevard set to be filled.
The parade will begin at 7 p.m. near Flamingo Road and continue for about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) to Tropicana Avenue. The Strip will be closed for the motorcade. The celebration will then culminate in a fan rally at Toshiba Plaza and the Park District in front of T-Mobile Arena, where the team has played since its inaugural season in 2017.
The Golden Knights have become an integral part of the “Vegas Strong” movement, which aims to bring the community together following the tragic mass shooting that occurred in Las Vegas in October 2017. The team has shown support for survivors, first responders, and volunteers, and has played a role in healing the community.
Team owner Bill Foley made bold predictions in the franchise’s first year, stating that they would make the playoffs in three years and win the Stanley Cup in six years. The Golden Knights surpassed expectations by reaching the playoffs in their debut season and advancing to the championship series before ultimately losing to the Washington Capitals in five games. This year, the team had a dominant playoff run, never facing elimination, and won the championship by defeating the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5. Captain Mark Stone recorded a hat trick in that game, and Jonathan Marchessault was named the playoff MVP, receiving the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The parade route and the arena’s plaza have previously hosted a victory celebration for the Las Vegas Aces, the city’s WNBA team, after they won the championship last September. The Aces also play their home games at T-Mobile Arena. Throughout the week leading up to the parade, Golden Knights players have been spotted celebrating at various resorts and casinos along the Strip.
