They wanted to be the first major sports team in the market. First one in, wins... Or so the thought is.
Vegas is an event town. They're hoping they can package hockey with the existing culture and people will include a hockey game as one of their nights out when visiting the city.
I haven't a clue whether it'll be successful or not, but I'm not as opposed to it as I was when I heard Anaheim or Columbus, or Florida... or the rumored Kansas City.