‘You’ll know Vegas is on the ice’: Golden Knights unveil golden uniforms

By Justin Emerson

Friday, Oct. 2, 2020 | 10:30 a.m.

The Vegas Golden Knights are bringing the gold in their name to their jerseys.

The Golden Knights unveiled a third jersey Friday morning, becoming the first organization in NHL history to utilize a metallic gold uniform. The third jersey will be in regular rotation beginning next season as an alternate home uniform, team officials said.

“It just makes logical sense to have the Golden Knights have a gold jersey,” chief marketing officer Brian Killingsworth said. “It’s going to stand out when you’re watching our games at T-Mobile Arena or on TV. You’ll know Vegas is on the ice.”

One of owner Bill Foley’s most-used phrases when describing the team’s philosophy — “Always advance, never retreat” — is embroidered on the inside collar. The process took two years to finish, working with the NHL and Adidas, the manufacturer.

The jersey utilizes a metallic shimmer in the gold portions of the jersey, something unique to the rest of hockey. The jersey maintains the team’s usual look with sleeve waist striping that mirrors the standard home and away jerseys. The gold jersey will be worn with the standard home gray helmets and standard white road gloves.

The crest on the front of the jersey is identical to the home and road jerseys, as are the secondary sword logos on the shoulders.

Part of the appeal to adding a gold uniform was the novelty. Unlike the Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins, who both utilize what Kilingsworth called “really more yellow,” Vegas went through numerous tests to make sure the bright gold popped, both on the ice and when fans where them in the stands.

“It’s truly reflective of Vegas, and that’s part of the feedback we got,” Killingsworth said. “We want something that fans will feel really comfortable wearing at our games or for a night out on the Strip.

“For us, it’s the lifestyle aspect of it too. We’ve been saying it’s not just a hockey jersey, it’s a fashion statement.”

The team is still looking into what exact games the jersey will be worn, though it will debut next season. Future games on special nights like Nevada Day are an option, so are working them into a regular weekly rotation such as Saturday night gold nights.

The jerseys are available to purchase now as part of 777 “treasure boxes” which includes customization, matching gold shoes, a collective box and a commemorative coin for $777 at City National Arena. Jerseys on their own will be available Saturday at City National Arena, T-Mobile Arena and the team’s website.

The team underwent countless tests with Adidas, the manufacturer, to ensure the jerseys would be playable on the ice and look good on TV, among other things. Killingsworth joked that Adidas initially said the idea for a metallic gold jersey was impossible, but that the retailer knows what to expect from the Golden Knights at this point.

The team initially wanted the jerseys to be ready in time for the 2019-20 season, but were not able to finalize them in time.

“Wearing a VGK jersey around town isn’t just for people going to the game or for die-hards, it’s a symbol of pride for the community,” Adidas hockey senior director Dan Near said in a statement. “That pride is reflected in this new gold 3rd.”