Foley has already accepted more than 14,000 season ticket deposits and sold out all 44 suites in the 17,500-seat rink built by MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Los Angeles Kings, one report said.
Las Vegas is the largest population centre in the United States without a hockey team.
Foley and his wife, Carol, stay at Wharekauhau when they visit New Zealand and have extensive vineyard interests in the US at Sonoma and Napa, including Chalk Hill where they are based for part of the year.
Foley will pay US$500 million to the NHL's other owners as an expansion fee and the new team will play in T-Mobile Arena, the US$375 million building that opened just off the Las Vegas Strip in April.
Foley expressed great enthusiasm for getting hockey to Las Vegas.
"We want everyone to be a fan. We're dedicated to it," he said.
"We'll leave no stone unturned in our dedication, in our pursuit of hockey for Las Vegas, not only for our team, but for the community."
