Golden Knights Kicked Out Of San Jose Hotel As It Suddenly Closes

The Vegas Golden Knights beat the San Jose Sharks 5-4 in overtime Friday night, but just before game time, the team scrambled to find new lodging.

The downtown Fairmont Hotel suddenly closed Friday and coach Pete DeBoer said the team was notified after they ate their pregame meal.

The San Jose Mercury News reports the hotel declared bankruptcy Friday and detailed how the "iconic" hotel was a victim of the struggling hotel business in California, according to the newspaper.

The article states the affiliate that owns the Fairmont San Jose hotel property listed debts that ranged from $100 million to $500 million, according to a filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Due to NHL COVID-19 protocols, the hotel served as league's designated hotel for the city.

"In each Club city, a single hotel will be designated for all visiting Clubs to use during road trips so that League standards for COVID-19 prevention can be consistently applied," the protocols state.

DeBoer said it was one of those things the team had to overcome and said it was good resilience by the group.

“It was a surreal experience,” DeBoer said. “Hopefully this is the end of the COVID year, but it was almost the topping on the cake for what the last year has been for everybody in the world. Just another thing throw at you, another thing to deal with."

The Golden Knights play the Sharks again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday before departing for Minnesota as part of a road series with the Wild.