The fire has returned and this year, it’s in the form of a dragon.

The concept of a dragon has been something the Vegas Golden Knights production team has wanted to incorporate since the beginning. They started integrating the dragon concept last season, including a projection of the dragon on ice as part of the pre-game open.

Feeling that the dragon brought together the Medieval realm and wanting to take it to the next level, the team decided that they wanted an actual dragon that would live at The Fortress.

VGK production reached out to Water FX, the same company that created the slot machine that lifted the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions banner, the dragon box and the castle, to bring to life their actual dragon.

The 34-foot wide and 15-foot-tall dragon has replaced the helmet on the castle on the mezzanine level of T-Mobile Arena. While she was just recently unveiled, the dragon took eight weeks to fabricate and install on the castle. With 3D printed claws and head, the female dragon, shoots cryo (compressed CO2) out of its mouth and smoke of its nose when the Vegas Golden Knights score a goal. 

“The idea of the dragon has been about two years in the making,” said Tyler Ferraro, Director of Entertainment Experience for the Vegas Golden Knights. “Bringing that out for playoffs to help us defend our championship was super exciting.”