For fans, memorable holiday

This Memorial Day certainly was a memorable one for many Las Vegas residents, as their beloved Golden Knights took

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-mobile Arena.

Normally a day of travel after the long holiday weekend, Monday had Las Vegans glued to their TV screens at home, in bars and in public locations for watch parties. Many sported Knights shirts and hats they bought in the past few days, or even hours.

Jake Taylor was selling

WATCHING

Knights apparel at a makeshift shop outside a gas station early Monday afternoon at Spring Mountain Road and Rainbow Boulevard. Taylor, who arrived from Oklahoma on Wednesday to take advantage of the Knights fever that has infected the valley, said he sold more than $3,000 worth of goods in three days.

Las Vegas resident Chris Kane bought a shirt from Taylor on his way to watch the game with about eight friends at a nearby home.

“Usually we would be at the lake on a boat on Memorial Day enjoying the weather, but today we had to be here to watch the Knights win Game 1,’’ Kane said confidently while showing off his black “Golden Misfits” shirt that cost $20. He predicted correctly, as the Knights beat the Washington Capitals, 6-4.

Dolly Rivera jumped out of her car to quickly snap up a Golden Knights towel on her way to a Stanley Cup Final house party with about 25 people. Rivera said they all would drink a shot each time the Knights score.

Strip atmosphere

Just outside T-mobile Arena, thousands of Golden Knights fans braved the early summer swelter to rally, drink and thump to DJ music hours before the game.

A few red shirts speckled the sea of black, gray and gold, denoting the handful of Capitals fans that decided Golden Knights’ ground zero was the best place to catch the Cup action.

As at almost any Las Vegas event, an Elvis impersonator showed up, this one wearing a belt with the Knights logo, and posed with fans.

The “Elvis,” Jeff Stanilus, has attended home games throughout the season since the home opener on Oct. 10.

“It just been a magical season,” said Stanilus, sweat dripping from his bushy sideburns.

Calgary, Alberta, native Derek Frank, 51, paraded around the plaza holding a homemade Stanley Cup by its handle, toasting against another fan’s Bud Light.

Frank had attended games in every Canadian NHL city, but nothing compares to the atmosphere at T-mobile Arena, he said.

“This blows it away,” said Frank, who has three of the homemade trophies.

He made them in October in anticipation of a Stanley Cup Final.

“Everybody laughed at me,” he said.

He will drink from it for the first time after the Knights win the series in five games, he predicted.

Henderson Pavilion

Some 2,000 people — mostly families with children — packed the Henderson Pavilion to watch the game on a giant screen under a white canopy. Those arriving after the puck dropped struggled to find parking nearby.

Food trucks nearby served up food, while kiosks offered something with a punch for adults. An emcee riled up the crowd during down time.

“It is kind of cool when you can come together as a city,” said Anthony Saolgado, who set up a tent on the grass in front of the pavilion with his wife, three children and seven other relatives. “This is a different energy we have never felt before in Las Vegas. I am glad my kids get to be around for this.”

Baby strollers were plentiful, and parents took their children — many too young to understand the excitement — to the mobile misting machines to cool down. Temperatures in the valley Monday topped 90 degrees.

Drinking in style

At SG Bar on West Flamingo Road, fans wearing Knights gear celebrated with brews in Stanley Cup-style mugs.