The day has finally come for professional hockey to return to Reno/Tahoe. The Tahoe Knight Monsters play their first ever game tonight. Tonights game was close to a sellout. I am not sure if the game has sold out. Either way this is super exciting. I am sure that tonights atmosphere will be electric. A few things to know before going to tonights game. This is the first ever season and game for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. The Tahoe Knight Monsters play in the ECHL. The ECHL is tier three professional hockey. It is below the NHL and AHL. The Tahoe Knight Monsters are the ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL and the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL. Check out my ECHL season preview and Tahoe Knight Monsters season preview for a look into this season.
This is game one of the 2024-25 ECHL season for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. The Tahoe Knight Monsters are playing the Jacksonville Icemen. This is the first time these two teams have ever played each other. The game is at the Tahoe Blue Events Center in Stateline, Nevada. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
First thing is get their early. Unlike in other sports, the warm up is a big part of the experience. Warm ups can be like a rave. Warm ups will likely start around 6:30 PM. The doors will open at 6:00 PM. The doors do open at 5:30 for season ticket holders. They will likely do longer introductions for this game. As the Vegas Golden Knights affiliate they may add more showmanship to the introductions than what is standard. The Vegas Golden Knights have a home game tomorrow so it is unlikely that the Vegas Golden Knights mascot Chance will be there. It is unlikely that any of the other gameday elements from Vegas make their way to Tahoe. Sometimes for the first game of the season ECHL teams will bring in mascots and other game day elements from their NHL and AHL affiliates. Also get there early because their may be a festival. Sometimes on opening nights team throw pregame festivals with venders and other fun things. Some teams do the red carpet experiences where the players enter the arena on the red carpet. I don’t know if any of this will happen but it might.
The Tahoe Blue Events center is right next to Bailey’s Lake Tahoe. There is parking there as well as parking at the Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe, Harveys Lake Tahoe, and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Below is a map with parking locations marked with blue markers.
The weather will not effect the game. The weather will effect if anyone can get to the game. It is October so we do not have to worry about snow storms too much. It will be around 45° during the game. That is definitely sweater weather. I don’t think anyone is jumping into Lake Tahoe with a high of 62°. Later on in the season around December and January the weather may effect peoples ability to make to up there.
There are a lot of places to pregame in the area around the Tahoe Blue Events Center and in Tahoe. Izzy’s Burger Spa is my favorite place to get a burger in Lake Tahoe. It is an eight minute drive from the arena but is definitely worth it. Joes Sports Bar and Grill inside of Harveys Lake Tahoe offers a close by sports bar experience. Basecamp Pizza Co. is good. Stateline Brewery and Restaurant is good. I have heard good things about the California Burger Company. I have wanted to try Tipsy Putt for a while. It is mini golf inside of sports bar. There are a lot of pregame options. I think Lake Tahoe is one of the best locations in all of sports because there is so much to do within walking distance of the arena. There are casinos, bars, restaurants, shops, hotels, ski resorts, golf and the beautiful Lake Tahoe all within walking distance of the arena.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters Knight Cap Crushable Lager can be bought at Lake Tahoe Aleworx. Lake Tahoe Aleworx are a five minute walk from the Tahoe Blue Events Center.
The Tahoe Blue Events Center has multiple entrances. They should all be open. I do not know if there will be a specific entrance for season ticket holders. Security is pretty tight with metal detectors and stuff. There is a clear bag policy. There is no outside food allowed. There is no reentry. The Tahoe Blue Event Center only accepts cards. Fairly typical stuff for an arena in 2024. Check out their FAQs page here. There will be Tahoe Knight Monsters merch available. The main thing is to be kind to people. Don’t harass staff, fans, or players. Don’t throw anything on the ice. Hockey fans tend to be nice and welcoming for the most part. Watch out for pucks, sticks, and other objects flying into the stands. Pay attention during the game. If you leave your seat you can’t get back until play has stopped. One of my favorite things at hockey games is chuck-a-puck. That is where during an intermission foam pucks get thrown on the ice. Whoever gets the puck into a helmet or closest to center wins a prize. I hope they have that. They will likely have a 50/50 raffle. That is where people buy raffle tickets and the winner gets half of the total winnings. They will have jersey raffles. They are auctioning off the jerseys worn this week that have special inaugural season patch. Their might be things going on the ice during intermissions. If a player scores three goals that is called a hat trick. When a home player gets a hat trick everyone throws their hats on the ice if they have one. Fans typically can get their hats back after the game.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are doing a t shirt give away tonight. They are also giving away glow rods.
The Item of the game is an inaugural logo patch.
Anyone not attending the game can watch it on Flo Hockey.
Bally’s Lake Tahoe is the official post-game party destination. Bally’s is located right next to the Tahoe Blue Events Center.
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Zac Electrifly 
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