In the midst of two shark clashes, the Vegas Golden Knights had to fight and change hotels in San Jose because the league’s designated lodging site suddenly went bankrupt, according to several reports.
Citing the financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fairmont Hotel, a landmark in downtown San Jose, closed its doors, but said it would reopen and resume operations within two to three months, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
This undermines the NHL’s plans to host visiting teams in San Jose, and the Golden Knights, shortly after winning 5-4 in overtime at the Sharks on Friday night, had to muster their belongings and change places. accommodation.
“It was a surreal experience,” Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer told Las Vegas Sun. “Hopefully this will be the end of the year COVID, but it was almost the culmination of what has been last year for everyone in the world. It has just thrown you something else, something else to try.
“It’s not that he’s breathing the same as dealing with COVID, but it was just one of those things that was thrown at us, we tried it.”
Max Pacioretty scored his second goal of the game in overtime on Friday, leading the Golden Knights to victory, raising Vegas ’streak of wins to five. But the enthusiasm was interrupted shortly after the goal.
“It’s the first time for everyone on our team,” said Las Vegas defender Nick Holden.
The Golden Knights will face the Sharks Saturday night to close out the consecutive set before traveling to Minnesota to meet the Wild.
But the accommodation problem will remain in San Jose. The Fairmont was the fate of all shark opponents and, with the St. Louis Blues to San Jose on Monday, the league will have to work out a new hotel strategy.
The Mercury News reported that the Fairmont, an 805-room hotel, is trying to find a management partner and expand its existing mortgage debt. The newspaper also reported that the hotel’s overall debt is between $ 100 million and $ 500 million.