LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — What began as a “silly idea” has grown into one of the Vegas Golden Knights’ most recognizable victory traditions: fans tossing plastic flamingos onto the ice after wins.
Drew Johnson, credited as the mastermind behind the flamingo tradition at Golden Knights games, said he hopes the celebration continues into the Stanley Cup Final.
“Can’t wait to see the Victory Flamingos flying during the Stanley Cup Final,” Johnson said. “I’m so proud that my silly idea to celebrate Golden Knights victories by tossing a plastic flamingo on the ice has become a beloved tradition embraced by the team, the players, and our community!”
Johnson said the idea was inspired by other NHL fan traditions in which items are thrown onto the ice to celebrate or rally a team. He pointed to Detroit’s octopus, Nashville’s catfish and Florida’s rat tradition, which involves throwing rubber rats.
Johnson, who is originally from Detroit, said he wanted something symbolic of Las Vegas. He said he landed on plastic flamingos because of local ties such as the Flamingo Hotel and Flamingo Road, and because flamingos evoke a “late 50s, early 60s rat pack, Viva Las Vegas era.”
Johnson said he first brought a flamingo to a game with the intention of throwing it if the opportunity arose.
“Obviously, we didn’t know how it would end up with the Stanley Cup final run. But I brought a flamingo, and I thought, you know, if there’s a chance to throw it on the ice, I would do it,” Johnson said.
He said he later received guidance from a season ticket contact about when to throw the flamingos to avoid disrupting play.
“I got a call from my season ticket member contact as a season ticket holder on day one,” Johnson said. “And he actually said, we know you threw the flamingo, just be cool and don’t throw it during, during breaks and play, because if it takes too long to clean up, the team could actually be penalized for delay of game.”
Johnson said that led to the “Victory Flamingo” approach, with fans throwing flamingos after the game.
“We throw it after the game, you know, when there’s no, no harm, no, no possibility of hurting the team with a penalty or anything like that,” he said.
Johnson said the tradition took off as fans rallied behind the team, and that it became even more established once the organization embraced it.
“And everybody just got so behind that Golden Misfits team,” Johnson said. “And so once we got going in the playoffs, we had the victory flamingo tradition going. And then by the next year, the team was making socks and t-shirts and things like that. And, and once the team bought it, bought into it, we knew it was going to last.”