LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas heat sweltered behind the New York-New York casino at 9 a.m. There was an active construction site with workers buzzing around a circular building. It was taking shape, but not built yet.

Hours before the NHL Board of Governors announced they would start looking into expansion as a possibility with Vegas as one of the prospective markets, I got to see the arena where a possible Las Vegas NHL team will play. If the league decides to pursue expansion in the area.

The $375 million arena will be ready next spring and has a reported 20,000 seating capacity.

And judging from what I saw it’ll be very Vegas-like with a view of the strip and some areas outside for entertainment.

Below are photos of the arena and what I saw on my tour today. Warning, I'm not a great photographer, but this was the best I could do with my iPhone.

This first shot is of the floor level of the arena. We were standing in dirt and my shoes got dusty. But it was an active construction site. What else did you expect?

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Below is a view from the patio outside the arena. Would be a great place for live music before a game! New York-New York was a little to the right. Sadly, it was not fully captured in this shot.

View photos Photo via Josh Cooper More

The below will be your nosebleed view. This is the arena's highest level for fans, and it's really not that high at all. The building feels like it's pushed out more than up from a seating perspective. Fascinating that this place will hold 20,000 and not feel that high up.

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