Las-Vegas-como-a-cidade-do-jogo-se-tornou-a-casa-dos-esportes-americanos
Reprodução/twitter @

Recognized as the “entertainment capital of the world”, Las Vegas has been consolidating itself as one of the main sporting destinations in the United States.

This evolution is evident with the choice to host Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium, the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

In the last century, in addition to being known as the “home of casinos“, Las Vegas was the scene of some of the most memorable boxing fights, earning it the title of true “Meca” of this sport.

With the rise of MMA in the 90s and the success of the UFC in the following decade, the city further expanded its prestige as host of major sporting events.

Sports betting, casinos and sports

Although local residents have a passion for traditional sports such as basketball, American football, ice hockey and baseball, major US leagues have been reluctant to establish teams in the city for two main reasons.

The first concern was the involvement of American sports with gambling and betting, a common practice in the city.

In 2007, for example, the NBA reached an agreement with local casinos to prevent gambling during All Star Weekend hosted at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Thomas & Mack Center – Reproduction/twitter @ThomasAndMack

The second concern was competition with the city’s own casinos and other attractions, such as shows and shows.

However, in recent years this perspective has changed significantly. In 2017, the NHL expanded to the city, giving rise to the Vegas Golden Knights, who found quick success at T-Mobile Arena.

T-Mobile Arena – Reproduction/ twitter @TMobileArena

Trends in Las Vegas

Following this trend, the WNBA arrived in town in 2018, renaming the San Antonio Stars the Las Vegas Aces, who promptly became a dominant force in the league.

In 2020, the NFL made its presence in the city official with the move of the traditional Las Vegas Raiders, opening Allegiant Stadium.

And the next team to join the list will be MLB‘s Oakland Athletics, scheduled to move to Nevada in 2027, indicating the continued growth of the Las Vegas sports scene.

Although the NBA has not yet confirmed a team in the city, there is significant interest, including from player LeBron James. Meanwhile, the NBA Cup was held at T-Mobile Arena, further strengthening ties between the league and the city.

At the same time, Formula 1 also returned to the city after three decades, highlighting the growing variety of sporting events.

Additionally, Super Bowl LVIII, between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, will be played on Sunday (11), at 8 pm, at Allegiant Stadium.

With a calendar full of renowned sporting events, the city of Las Vegas is consolidating itself as an unmissable destination for sports lovers, offering a unique experience that combines world-class entertainment with exciting competitions.