Vegas Sports Team: Betting Market Predictions for Next Major Franchise in Sin City
In a significant development for the sports landscape, Major League Baseball (MLB) is poised to establish a regular season team in Las Vegas before the National Basketball Association (NBA). This shift comes as the Oakland Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas has received official approval, with construction on their new ballpark already underway.
The MLB owners approved the Athletics' relocation in November 2023, and construction on the US$2 billion ballpark project at the Tropicana Hotel site commenced in mid-2025. The team is set to begin playing there in 2028, albeit temporarily playing the 2025–2027 seasons in Sacramento while their Las Vegas ballpark is built.
In contrast, the NBA currently has no similarly confirmed expansion or relocation plans specifically targeting Las Vegas. While MLB has concrete steps in place, the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, has indicated that the league is not rushing to make a decision about expanding to cities like Las Vegas.
Las Vegas, known for its vibrant sports culture, is already home to the NFL's Raiders, NHL's Golden Knights, and WNBA's Aces. The proposed NBA Arena in Las Vegas is located at the north end of the Strip. However, no current NBA expansion or relocation plan for Las Vegas is mentioned in recent sources.
Meanwhile, Larry Henry, a veteran print and broadcast reporter and editor with experience in media outlets in states with gaming, including Tennessee and Louisiana, has been closely following the developments. Henry has worked at the Las Vegas Sun and KFSM-TV, providing insights into the city's sports scene.
The sports industry in Las Vegas continues to grow, with major events like the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix and UNLV college athletics adding to the city's sports offerings. Major sportsbooks like those at Circa Resort and the Westgate Hotel Casino, as well as BetMGM Sportsbook at the Fremont hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas, are also a significant part of the city's sports culture.
However, the expansion of gaming in other states, such as Texas, appears to be facing resistance. Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, a Houston furniture store owner, recently stated that gaming expansion in Texas is unlikely. Meanwhile, in Nevada, the funding for the Major League Baseball stadium at the former Tropicana hotel-casino site is expected to come through.
As the construction of the Athletics' new ballpark progresses, sports fans in Las Vegas eagerly await the arrival of the team in three years. Despite the absence of a confirmed NBA expansion or relocation plan, the city's sports scene continues to thrive, offering a diverse range of sports and entertainment options.
- The Oakland Athletics, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, is set to establish a presence in Las Vegas, making it the first regular season team in the city before the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- In a significant move, MLB has approved the Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas, with construction on their new ballpark already underway at the Tropicana Hotel site.
- Sports culture in Las Vegas is flourishing, with the city already hosting the NFL's Raiders, NHL's Golden Knights, WNBA's Aces, and soon the MLB's Athletics.
- Salient sports events like the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix and UNLV college athletics further add to Las Vegas' sports offerings.
- Major sportsbooks at casinos like Circa Resort, Westgate Hotel Casino, and BetMGM Sportsbook at the Fremont hotel-casino are integral parts of Las Vegas' casino-and-gambling culture.
- Larry Henry, a veteran reporter and editor with experience in gaming states, has been closely following the sports and gambling trends in Las Vegas.
- While the sports industry in Las Vegas grows, Texas seems to face resistance in expanding gaming, according to Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, a furniture store owner in Houston.
