Las Vegas is unique among America’s most popular tourist destinations for many reasons. However, one of the more unusual of these is that Las Vegas is one of the few major cities which does not have its own sports franchise.
Despite having two million residents and, more importantly, more than 40 million visitors ready and willing to flash their cash, Las Vegas has yet to exploit one of the only big money-making enterprises it doesn’t have on its books.
Whilst Las Vegas hosts a variety of popular big-time sports events, from heavy-weight boxing championships to national rodeo finals, neither the government nor the community has ever shown much interest in the possibility of a specific franchise. Even at college level, there has been a distinct lethargy towards building upon native sport teams.
The University of Nevada recently planned to build a 50,000-seat stadium for a projected $532-million, which would have given Las Vegas a multi-functional stadium for a variety of sports events, both amateur and professional. However, the stadium’s construction – which was originally intended to be funded partially by public money – was stalled by acting school President Don Snyder who claimed that the money was needed elsewhere.
Despite this previous hesitation or lack of prioritization regarding the need for new sports stadiums, construction has begun on a new $375-million arena near New York. Whilse no franchise has yet been officially connected with this unnamed stadium – funded by The MGM Resorts International-Anschutz Entertainment Group partnership – the NHL has been rumored to be interested.
When The Chips Are Down
In a time where casual gambling is slowly moving online and the gambling resorts of the East are becoming more popular, the introduction of a sports franchise could be a needed addition to Las Vegas’ infrastructure.
An increasing percentage of the global gambling industry’s $100-billion revenue is coming from online casinos such as Casino Shorts, which appeal to casual gamblers through accessible casino games played for real money. Moreover, even the profit made from physical casinos is coming from steadily from exotic and fashionable eastern gambling meccas such as Macau. Therefore, the time is ripe for Las Vegas to freshen its image and invest in new endeavors.
Skating On Thin Ice
If NHL is seeing potential in a Las Vegas franchise, it won’t be the first time that a major sport has shown interest in a similar endeavour. It wasn’t that long ago that the NBA’s Utah Jazz was rumored to be considering Las Vegas as a potential new home. A similar thing happened with the MLB’s Oakland Athletics, who apparently also debated a relocation to Las Vegas. It wasn’t just existing franchises which entertained the notion of Las Vegas becoming their new home either. Former Major Oscar Goodman lobbied extensively, throughout his tenure, for a subsidized stadium or venue to attract lucrative franchises.
Build it and they will Come
Now, with a stadium being built regardless of franchise interest, Goodman’s idea looks like it may come to fruition. It has been revealed that NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly visited the arena site and was reported to have checked out mock-ups.
Whilst Daly has so far refused to comment directly on the possibility of a franchise in Las Vegas, he did concede there was a potential market in Nevada. Daly told the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “The demographics of the (Las Vegas) market are pretty good in terms of average annual income. Las Vegas natives earn good salaries, good livings. I think they genuinely like sports.”
Whilst hardly a contract set in stone, Daly’s acknowledgement of Las Vegas’s potential as a market for a major sports franchise is the most encouraging sign yet that one day, maybe even soon, the city will take the gamble and go for the majors.
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