The City of Lights may be a paradise for tourists in the mood for high-production spectacles and some of the world’s flashiest casino floors, but for the local sports fan, retail sportsbooks have been the only substitute for major league teams in the past decades.
Prior to the arrival of the WNBA’s Aces and the NHL’s Golden Knights, locals had access to some of the country’s most exclusive oddsmakers—just without a local team to back. But it hasn’t all been bad. After all, the Westgate Superbook and Caesar’s Palace sportsbook are some of the most famous locations in the world for punters (and a great spot to take visitors).
However, now that the USA’s betting climate is changing, with more states legalizing oddsmakers each year, Vegas’s sports culture is evolving. Today’s local punter can access free bets from top sportsbooks at the drop of a dime (MGM included), then head to Allegiant Stadium or T-Mobile Arena to watch a live game.
Clearly, the emphasis is shifting toward a more Vegas-centric sports atmosphere. Rather than catering to tourists looking to wager on moneylines or futures bets, sports life is about supporting the Aces, Golden Knights, or Raiders.
So far, the City of Lights has landed WNBA, NHL, and NFL teams—so what’s the hold-up for the MLB and NBA? In short, red tape and… more red tape.
Transitioning from the NBA’s Summer League
Vegas is home to thousands of basketball fans. Each year, they pack into Mandalay Bay to watch the Aces play, then come back in summer for the NBA’s Summer League. Since 2008, the city has hosted the NBA’s off-season competition.
Players from Damian Lillard to Josh Hart to Nate Robinson have lit up the floor as MVP winners, but when the league concludes, NBA teams and basketball pros pack up and head home. However, the ongoing tournament has established Vegas as a town that loves basketball and has the infrastructure to host its own franchise.
Standing in the way are the NBA’s expansion rules. At the moment, the league is looking to onboard another team for its Western Conference—though there’s still no confirmation from commissioner Adam Silver on when an expansion push will come.
Unfortunately for Vegas, Seattle is also keen on onboarding a team, and the expansion pack fee could skyrocket to $2.5 billion. With a robust sports entertainment market, Vegas investors will likely be able to swing the fee—though they’ll still have to beat Seattle in a bid.
Caption: T-Mobile Arena seats 18,000 spectators for basketball events, which could be used to house an NBA team during the construction of a separate arena.
MLB’s Athletics Looking at Vegas
If forced to choose, it seems likely that locals would opt for an NBA team. But with an influx of expansion teams recently touched down in the city and other high-profile sporting bids, it’s likely Seattle would win a bid for an expansion NBA team.
The MLB would find itself similarly at-home in the City of Lights. The Oakland Athletics’ minor league affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators, competes at the Las Vegas Ballpark. The stadium was completed in 2019 and seats 10,000 spectators.
However, it’s unlikely that this stadium would be adapted for a larger MLB stadium (which seats 42,000 on average). That means an incoming MLB franchise would be responsible for constructing a brand-new stadium.
Another major roadblock is that the MLB has no expansion plans in the coming years, which means the city would need to attract a team from another city. Recently, the Las Vegas Sun reported on a possible relocation of the Oakland Athletics franchise—coming only years after Oakland’s NFL Raiders franchise moved east.
The Athletics’ current lease on the Oakland Coliseum is set to expire in 2024. Facing massive and costly renovations, as well as slow negotiations with the city over a new construction site, the Athletics may be forced to move in the coming years.
Las Vegas would be a perfect place for relocation, as it’s already home to the Athletics’ MiLB affiliate, the Aviators. However, there’s been no headway in regard to a new stadium or potential investors in Las Vegas. A conservative estimate for building a new stadium is $1 billion, which would seat at least 30,000 spectators.
