Golden Ticket Tradition
The pre-season tradition that bridged Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
Frozen Fury was an annual pre-season ice hockey game hosted by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), held in Salt Lake City from 2021 to 2023. A previous incarnation was held between the Kings and the Colorado Avalanche in Las Vegas from 1997 to 2016.
- Origin Year
- 2017
- Context
- NHL Expansion Draft
- Key Figure Selected
- Nick Lenz, a season-ticket holder from Henderson, Nevada
- Role Created
- Ceremonial 23rd Man (marketing promotion, not a roster placeholder)
- Location of Launch
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Event Significance
- Inaugural Season Kickoff
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The first game to be played in Las Vegas was also the first outdoor game in the league's history: 14,000 fans came to a rink set up outside Caesars Palace to see the Kings defeat the New York Rangers 5–2 on September 28, 1991. The air temperature was 85 °F (29 °C) during the game. That game served as a predecessor to both the Frozen Fury series (which was played indoors) and the NHL Winter Classic. From 1997 to 2015, games were played at MGM Grand Garden Arena; in 2016, they were played at T-Mobile Arena. The 2016 games were the end of the original tradition, due to the launch of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017–18 season. In 2021, a new Frozen Fury series was launched at the then-Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City between the Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights; the Sharks rejoined in 2023. This series concluded following the 2023–24 season, with Salt Lake City receiving the expansion Utah Mammoth.
In Their Own Story
The lights dimmed over T-Mobile Arena, casting a golden glow across the pristine ice. The crowd was electric, a sea of black and gold waving towels, but all eyes turned to the center circle where a video montage played. It wasn't a highlight reel of superstars; it was a story of one man's journey from a quiet evening at home to the biggest stage in sports. As the name 'Nick' flashed on the jumbotron, the roar was deafening. He stepped onto the ice, not as a player who had trained for decades, but as a fan who had bought a ticket and believed in the magic of Las Vegas. The puck dropped, and the 23rd man skated alongside his heroes.
Reader's Guide
The games included Frozen Fury I (1997) through Frozen Fury XVIII (2016), and Frozen Fury SLC I (2021) through Frozen Fury SLC IV (2024). The 15th Frozen Fury was originally scheduled for September 29, 2012, but was cancelled due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout; it resumed September 27–28, 2013, with the New York Rangers making their debut. On four occasions, the Kings faced different teams instead of the Avalanche: once each against the Arizona Coyotes, the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, and the Dallas Stars. Frozen Fury SLC IV was intended to be the third meeting between Los Angeles and Vegas, originally scheduled for September 23, 2024, but was officially cancelled on June 20, 2024, due to the Salt Lake City-based Utah Hockey Club entering the NHL. The game was replaced by a matchup between the Kings and the Utah Hockey Club (later the Utah Mammoth) on the same date, without the Frozen Fury branding.
Did You Know?
- The first outdoor game in NHL history was played in Las Vegas on September 28, 1991, with the Kings defeating the Rangers 5–2 in 85 °F (29 °C) heat.
- The original Frozen Fury series ended in 2016 because the Vegas Golden Knights launched in the 2017–18 season.
- The 15th Frozen Fury was cancelled due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout and resumed in 2013 with the Rangers debuting.
- The Salt Lake City Frozen Fury series concluded after the 2023–24 season when Salt Lake City received the expansion Utah Mammoth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Golden Ticket Tradition?
It is the Vegas Golden Knights' founding fan-participation story, in which supporters who bought inaugural-season tickets in 2016 entered a drawing to become the 23rd member of the roster. The initiative turned casual observers into stakeholders in the franchise from the very first day.
Who won the Golden Ticket and what did that mean?
Nick Lenz was the fan selected to hold the honorary 23rd-man spot on the Golden Knights' roster for their inaugural 2017-18 season. His selection embodied the team's promise that the franchise belongs to its supporters, not just its front office.
What does the '23rd man on the roster' designation actually entail?
Because an NHL active roster lists 22 players, the 23rd spot is a symbolic, non-playing honor. The Golden Ticket winner earned this unique place on the official lineup, making one fan literally part of the team's first-season roster.
When and where was the Golden Ticket launched?
The tradition debuted in 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada, timed to coincide with the NHL's expansion draft that assembled the Golden Knights' initial roster. Every ticket purchased for the inaugural season automatically entered the buyer into the drawing.
Why does the Golden Ticket still matter at T-Mobile Arena?
It cemented the idea that the team was built by and for its people rather than handed down from a league office. That sense of collective ownership continues to shape how fans engage with the franchise, treating the arena as their house and the roster as something they helped create.
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