It’s hard to believe now, but there was a time when the idea of hometown sports in Las Vegas was frowned upon. Having a major-league team in a town driven by gambling—much of it sports betting—seemed like a combination with too many variables. Those days are gone. Vegas is officially a sports town with some big players driving the action, including The Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL expansion franchise most responsible for the current sports boom. The team gave Las Vegas something to believe in after the 2017 mass shooting on the Strip and defied expectations by reaching the Stanley Cup finals in the team’s inaugural season. The Vegas Golden Knights went all the way and won the championship in 2023 with hopes of repeating this year.
There’s also The Las Vegas Aces, the defending two-time WNBA champions proving that a women’s sports team can draw in Las Vegas, and The Las Vegas Raiders, the Oakland transplants whose transition to Vegas has been rough at best, but at least it gave us Allegiant Stadium. Then there’s Ultimate Fighting Championship, the Las Vegas-based company that took cage fighting mainstream, that’s gearing up for a series of big shows this year, including UFC 300 in April, Conor McGregor’s pending return during International Fight Week in June, and a debut at the Sphere in September.
And, looking ahead, 2024 will be bigger than ever, with a weeklong series of events leading up to Super Bowl LVIII on February 11 at Allegiant Stadium and the return of F1 (with the accompanying traffic delays and online rage) from November 22 to 23. Efforts to bring new major-league teams to Vegas seem inevitable but are question marks at the moment. The idea of building a baseball stadium at the site of the Tropicana faces some hurdles, while promises of an NBA-ready arena in the north end of the Strip have been little else but talk for years.
The chatter highlights one thing: Las Vegas is on fire as a sports town. Here’s where to continue the fun by enjoying sports in Vegas and even getting in on the action yourself.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Photo by Sam Morris, courtesy of Las Vegas News
Look out for: Fast cars and high-speed thrills
Before there was F1, there was the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 1.5-mile oval track is the home of NASCAR in Las Vegas, hosting annual events like Pennzoil 400, South Point 400, and even truck series racing with the capacity to hold 80,000 screaming fans. Half the fun is partying in the fan zone and camping out overnight. You can also test out the track yourself with Dream Racing, Mario Andretti, and NASCAR fan experiences.
Las Vegas Lights | Sam Wasson/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
Look out for: Goals and glory with no hands
Soccer is starting to catch on in the US and maybe soon, we’ll call it “football” like the rest of the world does. Sin City got into the act with the Las Vegas Lights, whose name was decided in a poll of more than 10,000 fans in 2018. The team is part of the United Soccer League, with a new season kicking off in March under the guidance of former baseball star José Bautista, who was recently announced as the new primary owner. Home games take place at Cashman Field.
Stadium Swim | Ryan Gobuty, courtesy of Stadium Swim
Look out for: The world’s best pool party for watching sports
Stadium Swim is easily one of the best places to watch a big game in Las Vegas. The rooftop pool deck at Circa has a staggered “stadium style” layout with lounge chairs and cabanas facing a massive 143-foot video wall. All six pools are heated, allowing sports fans to take a dip and cheer on their favorites year-round. Just remember to place a bet downstairs at the Circa Sportsbook, one of the largest in Vegas.
City National Arena | Photo courtesy of City National Arena
Look out for: Public skating where the Golden Knights practice
Between home games at T-Mobile Arena, the Vegas Golden Knights practice at City National Arena in Downtown Summerlin. You may catch a glimpse of the team in action or take to the ice yourself. The general public is welcome for open skate sessions, in-house hockey leagues, camps, and classes. It’s also a great spot to buy official Golden Knights merch.
Las Vegas Aviators at Las Vegas Ballpark | Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Look out for: Minor league baseball next to a Summerlin shopping mall
The Las Vegas Aviators (formerly the 51s at Cashman Field) are a minor league baseball team with home games at the Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin. The 8,000-seat stadium has an easy, breezy atmosphere with comfy net-mesh seats, food counters by local restaurants, and canine team members who retrieve stray bats. Bring your ticket to nearby Frankie’s Uptown for a free beer after the game.
Westgate SuperBook | Photo courtesy of Westgate SuperBook
Look out for: A jumbo-sized sports betting experience
If you go by pure square footage, the Westgate has the largest sportsbook in the world, with more than 350 seats, including VIP spots, pods, and booths available by reservation. Regular seating is first-come, first-serve. The Superbook also goes big on prop bets, with close to 500 expected for the upcoming Super Bowl. Yes, most Vegas casinos have a sportsbook of some sort, but the SuperBook is the only one with its own dedicated parking lot, giving locals yet another reason to show some loyalty while placing a bet and watching the action on the 220-foot-long 4K video wall.
Wynn Golf Club | Brian Oar, courtesy of Wynn Golf Club
Look out for: Old-school golfing on the Vegas Strip
If you go back a few decades, it wasn’t uncommon for a big resort on the Strip to have its own golf course. The value of both real estate and the water at Lake Mead has caused that tradition to fall by the wayside in recent years. The Wynn even planned to replace its iconic golf course with some kind of lake attraction a few years ago but backpaddled and decided to keep the course, which remains open to the public. It isn’t cheap to play, but you get a great view of the Sphere, which may or may not be judging your swing.
Brooklyn Bowl | Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Bowl
Look out for: Bowling that’s better with booze, food, and music
Vegas has its share of bowling alleys, most notably at the South Point, Orleans, and Red Rock Resort, but Brooklyn Bowl is a different beast altogether. The restaurant, bar, and concert hall have a prime Strip location on The LINQ promenade and 32 hardwood lines to bowl between bites of fried chicken and sips of beer. You can even book a lane during a concert with the stage in full view.
Beer Park | Photo by Chris Wessling, courtesy of Beer Park
Look out for: Rooftop viewing parties with Strip views
Beer Park has something most sports bars in Vegas don’t: a rooftop deck with views of the Bellagio fountains across the street. The open-air venue also has more than a hundred beers on tap, wine, cocktails, and game-day grub that includes house-smoked BBQ. The whole thing has a clubhouse feel to it, with high-definition TVs at every angle to watch the latest game.
Mayweather Boxing Club | Denise Truscello/WireImage/Getty Images
Look out for: Boxing lessons from the guy who trained the best
Long before big-league teams and cage fighting came along, boxing was the sport that drove this town, with some of the biggest championship bouts in history taking place on the Strip. Step inside the ring and learn the sweet science yourself with instruction by Floyd Mayweather Sr. (who guided his son to GOAT status) and Jeff Mayweather. Dewey Cooper handles the MMA and kickboxing training. The gym is quick to point out that the business isn’t affiliated with Floyd Junior, who has his own line of franchised Mayweather Boxing + Fitness studios.
Topgolf | Photo courtesy of Topgolf
Look out for: The most fun you’ll have driving golf balls
This isn’t your average, ordinary driving range. Topgolf has four levels of temperature-controlled bays, allowing guests to load up on food and booze while whacking golf balls toward color-coded targets with views of the Vegas Strip as the backdrop. Some keep score on digital screens. Most just hang out and enjoy the fun. You can also sign up for lessons, book a private VIP suite for large parties, or take a dip in a pool. You can’t argue with Topgolf’s success, which has inspired a wave of new golf-related entertainment attractions in 2024.
The Park | Photo courtesy of The Park
Look out for: The ultimate party spot to celebrate the Knights
The Park stretches from the T-Mobile Arena to Shake Shack at New York-New York, making it the ultimate party spot before and after Golden Knights games. There’s usually some pop-up fun at Toshiba Plaza, but you’ll want to check out the beer and brats at Beerhaus, roast beef sandwiches at Top Round, and lobster rolls at Luke’s Lobster. Walk across the street for cocktails and live music at NoMad Bar.
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels | Louis Grasse/Stringer/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
Look out for: Star athletes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The legacy of college sports is strong in Las Vegas, dating back to when the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels won the men’s basketball championship in 1990. Today, the Rebels are currently in a less spectacular season but continue to draw fans to the Thomas & Mack Center. You can also show your support as UNLV athletes compete in baseball, softball, golf, swimming, cross country, and other endeavors, including football, with games taking place at Allegiant Stadium. The Thomas & Mack and Cox Pavilion also host the NBA Summer League each year.
Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar | Photo by Anthony Mair, courtesy of Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar
Look out for: One of the newest and coolest sports bars in Vegas
Location is everything in Las Vegas. Flanker is in a perfect spot–the Shoppes at Mandalay Place, to be exact–making it the most convenient sports bar for those walking over to Allegiant Stadium to catch the Super Bowl (or the Raiders’ return this fall), Aces or Desert Dog games at the Michelob Ultra Arena, and the Super Bowl Experience (a four-day fan festival leading up to the big game) at the Mandalay Bay Expo Center. Even better, the menu is pretty awesome, with a killer burger, late-night pizza parties, and a well-stocked cocktail bar.
Las Vegas Desert Dogs at Michelob ULTRA Arena | Ethan Miller/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
Look out for: The beautiful aggression of professional lacrosse
The Desert Dogs, an expansion franchise for the National Lacrosse League, share the Michelob Ultra Arena with the WNBA world-champion Aces but are starting to build its own following in season two. The team’s owners include Wayne Gretzky, who describes the sport as a cross between hockey and American football. Translation: get ready for some crazy, violent tackles. Former star player Shawn Williams is the general manager and head coach.
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