Teresa Moss, Las Vegas Sun
Xavier Aguilera watches the Golden Knights play while visiting with family at Trackside Sports Bar & Grill Saturday inside Palace Station.
Saturday, June 3, 2023 | 11:27 p.m. | Saturday, June 3, 2023 | 11:27 p.m.
The cheers coming from Golden Knights fans inside Palace Station Saturday night were so loud they frequently were drowning out the rings of the nearby slot machines.
About 300 fans watched the Golden Knights’ 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Trackside Sports Bar & Grill inside the casino. Many jumped out of seats with hands in the air with every goal — and near goal.
Xavier Aguilera, of Las Vegas, watched the game with his wife, step-daughter and his wife’s ex-husband.
“This is a Knights’ atmosphere,” said local Xavier Aguilera, who watched the game his family. “This is our first time here and we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.”
Davis Williams, the bar’s general manager, paused from his conversation Saturday night as the Knights scored their third goal, breaking a tie, because of the eruption of cheers and clapping from customers.
The Knights playing in the Stanley Cup is a major moment for the bar that has been open for three years, Williams said. The bar markets as a local sports spot and it wants more customers to see that, he said.
Hopefully some of the playoff customers will come back and make the spot their neighborhood bar, he said.
In Henderson, the Craggy Range Sports Bar and Grill, has no problem marketing as a Golden Knights hangout as it’s located at the Dollar Loan Center, where the Knights’ minor league team plays.
The 420-seat bar was packed with fans before the game started at 5 p.m.
Josie Babcock, 16, of Henderson sat a center table filled with Knight memorabilia in front of the bar’s big screen. A friend showed up at 2:30 pm to reserve the table.
“Now all the players know me and stop by to say hi,” Babcock said.
General Manager Chris Baresh said the crowd was about half regulars that he knew and half fans coming out for the playoff games.
Marianna Rios, of Henderson, said she lives two blocks from the bar. She’s came to a few Knight games at the restaurant before but wasn’t an avid customer.
Neighborhood bars are a fun way to watch games because everyone is on the page, she said.
Allyse Tyson, of Las Vegas, pours free shots after a goal is made Saturday night at PKWY Tavern Tivoli Village.
In Tivoli Village, bartenders and servers at PKWY Tavern Taphouse and Grille passed around free shots to celebrate each goal made by the Knights.
Allison Davis and Cari Tobar, both of Las Vegas, raised their shots to each other, cheering after the first goal of the night.
Davis, originally from the Midwest, said it was exciting to come together with others who make Las Vegas home over a sports team.
“That’s why we love the Knights,” Davis said. “It is such a community event. We all rally behind them.”
Roger Tobar, Cari’s husband, has lived in Las Vegas since a small child. He’d seen other areas rally together for teams in the past but said the Knights is the first one he saw everyone support in Vegas.
“This is great for our community,” Tobar said. “This is for everyone. Everybody is here together. No matter what is going on with their lives. We are here together.”
David Appelzoller III lives a few miles from PKWY Tavern and said he visits often. The Knights prove that there is more than “sin” in Vegas, he said.
“We have a community and we are tight,” he said.
