In the past two years, Henderson has become home to two pro sports teams and two ice rink arenas. After Lifeguard Arena opened on Water Street in fall 2020 as a community center and practice facility for the Henderson Silver Knights, Dollar Loan Center opened last week as the designated home arena for the Silver Knights and the Valley’s new Indoor Football League team, the Vegas Knight Hawks.
Having hosted the Big West Basketball Championships March 8-12—and with the Knight Hawks’ first indoor football game scheduled for Friday, March 18—residents are already getting a taste of what they can expect from the 200,000-square-foot venue south of the Beltway on Green Valley Parkway. At the arena’s first public gathering at the center’s outdoor plaza on March 8, several say it’s an upgrade from the Henderson Pavilion that used to reside there.
“This totally exceeds [expectations] with the stage and outdoor area,” says seven-year Henderson resident Jason Bowden, who lives with his wife and daughter within walking distance of the venue.
In the “Tiltyard”—an outdoor plaza with a raised stage and amphitheater-style seating—kids are roller blading on turf-lined concrete with live music playing and food truck smells wafting in the background. “When it was the Pavilion … it wasn’t as engaging. This seems like it will be more of a draw to pull people to the area,” Bowden says.
A fan of the Golden Knights, Bowden says he’s excited to have a neighborhood hockey team and another hangout spot nearby, in addition to the District at Green Valley Ranch. Bowden says most of his neighbors are excited, too, though some have concerns about traffic and safety in the area.
When the City of Henderson approved the Golden Knights’ proposal for the new arena in 2020, community members organized a petition opposing it and voiced concerns about the traffic and crowds that a new 5,567-seat arena would bring to the neighborhood.
“There was some pushback. Some people think it’s going to be an issue,” Bowden says. “Traffic is not my biggest concern. I can walk here. There are a lot of people in the neighborhood who are excited to be able to walk to an event.”
On day one of the Big West tournament, crossing guards stationed along Green Valley Parkway near the arena interrupted the steady flow of pre-rush hour traffic that typically forms around the District and I-215 ramps. What might have been an inconvenience for drivers was appreciated by father and son Rick and Kevin Vock, who had walked from their home across the street to Dollar Loan Center.
“I don’t have to risk my life crossing the street,” Rick says, adding that a pre-arena crosswalk, just south of what’s now Silver Knights Way, wasn’t always heeded by drivers.
A parking map shows that the venue’s designers had various forms of transportation in mind. A rideshare lot is designated south of the arena and west of Paseo Verde Library. And there are racks nearby for more than 100 bicycles.
“We’ve worked really closely with some of the consultants on engineering our roadways to increase capacity along Paseo Verde and Green Valley Parkway, to increase and improve the flow of traffic,” Henderson Mayor Debra March says.
The Silver Knights, which have been playing home games at Orleans Arena since February 2021, will debut at Dollar Loan Center on April 2. Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz says there are about 4,000 season ticketholders, and remaining seats are expected to sell out.
Aside from sporting events, the arena will try to attract customers daily to its merch store and the on-site Craggy Range Sports Bar & Grill, owned by Golden Knights owner Bill Foley’s restaurant group. Another point of attraction, the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, is available to view inside the arena during events.
Bubolz says the arena’s “medieval modern” aesthetic will provide a unique and engaging experience for visitors.
“We don’t have suites; we have chambers. We don’t have elevators; we have hoists. We don’t have restrooms; we have throne rooms. We don’t have a club level; we have the royal landing. We’ve got a castle that’s permanently displayed in the building,” Bubolz says. “There’s an element of what they create in Disneyland that we wanted to create inside this venue and really make it an immersive experience.”
Those excited about Dollar Loan Center’s opening didn’t have to wait long for it. Just a few months after the city greenlit a $84 million budget—split 50-50 with the Golden Knights— contractors began demolition of the Henderson Pavilion in August 2020 and wrapped up construction in 18 months.
According to the agreement, the city owns the facility and will lease it to the Golden Knights for $150,000 annually for 20 years, and the Golden Knights operate it. March says she anticipates the venue will be used for community events such as performances by local ensembles, graduation ceremonies and farmers markets, 36 days a year.
In addition to leisure and job opportunities for local residents (a Golden Knights rep says they’re nearly finished filling 250 positions at the center), the mayor says she sees nearby businesses and hotels benefiting. She expects Dollar Loan Center visitors to wander over to the District at Green Valley Ranch, helping restaurants and retail businesses in the area. And for multi-day events like the Big West tournament, people will book area hotels.
An impact study commissioned by the city projects that the arena will generate $26 million for local businesses. “I’m thrilled to welcome this venue to Henderson,” March says,” and to know it’s part of bringing something back and giving something back to our community. We built this for Henderson.”
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