Photo credit: John Locher

 

Welcome to The Greatest Arena on Earth™, where sports come alive! Experience the thrill of sports in Las Vegas, where the biggest games and greatest moments happen with unparalleled excitement and energy. Las Vegas sports range from headliner names in boxing to professional hockey teams taking the ice to professional soccer matches to the biggest NFL game of the year. It all happens here, so buckle in and read on for a Las Vegas sports fan guide to all the action and the teams that play in Vegas.  

 

Las Vegas Teams and Sports  

Las Vegas-based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, which you won’t want to miss. UFC events will occur throughout 2023 in UFC Apex and T-Mobile® Arena. UFC International Fight Week returns this July, with several fan events hosted throughout the city that always draw a massive crowd. The 11th Annual UFC International Fight Week will take place in Las Vegas from Monday, July 3, through Sunday, July 9, headlined by UFC 290, the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and UFC’s premier two-day immersive and interactive fan experience, UFC X. 

From Floyd Mayweather to Muhammad Ali and beyond, Las Vegas continues its long-standing reign as the boxing capital of the world. Some of the top fights of the year are held at MGM Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. 

The Las Vegas Aviators of the Pacific Coast League, a Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, take their swings at the Las Vegas Ballpark from April to September. 

The reigning Stanley Cup champions, Vegas Golden Knights (VGK), play regular season games at T-Mobile Arena September through April. As an expansion team in 2017, the Golden Knights stunned the hockey world by reaching the Stanley Cup Final in their first season and have reached the playoffs in five of their six seasons thus far. The Henderson Silver Knights are the VGK’s minor league team who play at Lee's Family Forum from October to April. 

For the first time ever, the Big Game will take place at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024. Additionally, the Pac-12 Championship Game is played in December followed by the Pro Bowl Games in February 2024. 

The Las Vegas Lights FC debuted in the United Soccer League (USL) in 2018. The professional soccer team plays at Cashman Field from March through October. 

Defending WNBA Champion, the Las Vegas Aces, won the the city’s first major professional sports title. The Aces play from May to September at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, which will also host the WNBA’s All-Star Weekend from July 14-15.

Catch additional basketball action at the off-season NBA Summer League, giving rookie or undrafted players a chance to show off their skills every summer at Thomas & Mack Center. The first-ever NBA Con takes place at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas from July 7-9. NBA Con features a historic lineup of NBA legends plus limited-edition merch, tech, art, fashion, and live music. Las Vegas also hosts several college basketball conference tournaments each year and in 2028, the Men’s Final Four is coming to Allegiant Stadium.

NASCAR hosts two major races in February and October at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The National Hot Rod Association Nevada Nationals also takes place in October. For the first time in more than 40 years, Formula 1 returns to Las Vegas! The inaugural FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX is coming to Las Vegas November 16-18. Taking place at night against the iconic Las Vegas backdrop, The Las Vegas Strip Circuit™ is 3.8 miles, and will see drivers reach jaw-dropping speeds of over 210 mph (340 kph) as they race past some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, hotels and casinos on the legendary Las Vegas Boulevard. 

The Professional Bull Riders Team Series Finals are hosted every fall and this year take place at T-Mobile Arena. And the biggest rodeo in Las Vegas is the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), which takes place annually every December at the Thomas & Mack Center.  

The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are Las Vegas’ box lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They play at the Michelob ULTRA Arena December through April. 

Where to Watch Every Exhilarating Moment  

Charlie’s Sports Bar at Wynn Las Vegas 

  • Watch your favorite sports game on multiple screens as you dine on elevated favorites including sky-high burgers and shareable appetizers such as giant pretzels and loaded nachos. Choose from 16 beers on tap, as well as shakes, floats and craft microbrews.  

Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

  • A go-to spot for game day eats and drinks with a menu featuring American classics such as burgers, boozy milkshakes, and a selection of over 50 craft beers.  Plus, with a huge 30-foot-long LED wall and multiple flat screen TVs, you’re sure to catch all the action!

The Front Yard at Ellis Island Hotel, Casino & Brewery 

  • Open 24 hours, this two-story indoor and outdoor venue has an 18-foot screen TV, as well as multiple vantage points to watch the game on one of the many other TVs. The second-floor atrium, with its views of the Las Vegas Strip, is a great spot for breezy garden dining and watching the game. Enjoy brews on tap and Ellis family recipes including house-cured bacon and brisket. 

 

This sports guide scrapes the surface of the many places to watch sports in Vegas, celebrate wins and experience camaraderie on another level. There are many other, so keep up with the latest on sports events in Las Vegas – and get here!