In the midst of a two-game set against the Sharks, the Vegas Golden Knights had to scramble and switch hotels in San Jose, as the league’s designated property suddenly filed for bankruptcy, according to multiple reports.
Citing financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fairmont Hotel, a landmark in downtown San Jose, closed its doors but said it will reopen and resume operations in two to three months, according to San. Jose Mercury News.
That puts a dent in the NHL’s plans to house visiting teams in San Jose, and the Golden Knights had to collect their belongings and switch accommodations not long after their 5-4 overtime victory over the Sharks on Friday night.
“It was a surreal experience,” Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer told Las Vegas Sun. “Hopefully this is the end of the COVID year, but it was almost the topping on the cake of what has been for everyone in the world this past year. to go.”
“Not that I’m in the same breath as dealing with COVID, but it was just one of those things we were thrown at us, we got it handled.”
Max Pacioretty scored his second goal of the game in extra time on Friday, leading the Golden Knights to victory, pushing Vegas’ winning streak to five. But the enthusiasm was interrupted not long after the goal.
“That’s a first for probably everyone on our team,” said Vegas defender Nick Holden.
The Golden Knights will face the Sharks on Saturday night to conclude the back-to-back set before traveling to Minnesota to meet the Wild.
But the shelter problem remains in San Jose. The Fairmont was the destination for all of the Sharks’ opponents, and with the St. Louis Blues heading to San Jose Monday, a new hotel strategy needs to be drawn up by the league.
The Mercury News reported that the Fairmont, an 805-room hotel, is trying to find a management partner and extend its existing mortgage debt. The newspaper also reported that the hotel’s total debt is between $ 100 million and $ 500 million.