By the time the Vegas Wants Hockey NHL ticket drive press conference ended on Tuesday afternoon, the goal of 10,000 season-ticket deposits sold was already down to 9,958.

Bill Foley, the man behind bringing an NHL team to Las Vegas, welcomed various city dignitaries, along with Gary Bettman during the 30-minute press conference. And, because it’s Las Vegas, it wasn’t your ordinary press conference.

There were showgirls:

…and a mock replica of the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign:

Finally, when the press conference ended and tickets went on sale, there was a puck drop, involving two local men’s league players and Gavin Maloof, who along with brother Joe, are part of Foley’s team.

After all the glitz and glam, now things get real for Foley and his vision of bringing the NHL to Las Vegas. The league isn't endorsing the ticket drive, but the speed at which they reach the 10,000 sold mark will certainly give Bettman and the Board of Governors an idea that maybe a franchise can be supported there, whether by relocation or expansion.

Those interested can drop a refundable deposit between $150-$900 depending on seat location and that will give them the right to purchase tickets if the NHL approves a team to go there. The tickets would be only for the team's first season as an NHL franchise, 2016-17, and as Chris Johnston pointed out, that's the year many expect the NHL to expand.

“We’re listening (to the Foley-Maloof group),” said Bettman, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Let’s see what happens over the next few weeks.”

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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