By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
The Vegas Golden Knights took over Las Vegas like a benevolent alien landing here at the right place in the right time, ruling with a player named, “Flower,” and endless good deeds and occasional funny videos.
Meanwhile, locals are also mesmerized by the cranes off Interstate 15 that are erecting what will be a palatial new domed stadium to house the rebuilding Raiders, the always-rebuilding UNLV football team and other events that are billed to help the Las Vegas economy.
And there’s a rumor about the Rio being demolished to make way for a Major League Baseball park and the NBA is supposed to have a team here a few years after the Raiders christen their new $1.9 billion stadium project in 2020.
The events just keep on rolling into Las Vegas. LVSportsBiz.com received word Tuesday that the 2018 MGM Resorts NBA G League Winter Showcase — the NBA’s premier in-season scouting event — is set for Las Vegas from Dec. 19-22 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in promotion with Las Vegas Events, the LVCVA’s event promotions arm
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For the first time, the NBA G League Winter Showcase will host more than 20 players from NBA Academies, the league’s network of elite basketball training centers for top prospects from outside the U.S. The prospects will scrimmage against one another, participate in the 2018 Tarkanian Classic and receive life-skills programming focusing on education, leadership, health and wellness, and character development. Since October 2016, NBA Academies have been launched in Canberra, Australia; Jinan, Urumqi and Zhuji, China; Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), India; Mexico City, Mexico; and Saly, Senegal.
The December showcase has become a springboard to the NBA from its official minor league, with more than 60 players earning GATORADE call-ups during or immediately following the last 14 showcases. Last season, 11 players signed NBA contracts coming out of the event, including Westchester Knicks guard Trey Burke. He went on to average 12.8 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 50.3 percent from the field in 36 games with the New York Knicks. (Then, you have the NBA Summer League every July — also presented by MGM Resorts International.)
The Big Leagues in the traditional mainstream team sports are terrific for Las Vegas.
But the cowboys, bulls and horses will be rolling into town soon for that time of the year when Las Vegas’ sports scene harkens back the city’s roots as a western horse town.
The Plaza hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas is creating downtown’s only permanent outdoor equestrian center, featuring two outdoor arenas for roping practice and exercise just in time for that Super Bowl of Rodeos also known as the National Finals Rodeo at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.
“There is no better way to pay homage to our western history than to create a home for rodeo downtown, where Las Vegas got its start,” said Jonathan Jossel, the Plaza hotel’s CEO. “However, this is not only about the rodeo. The Plaza’s new equestrian center is a testament to the continued growth of downtown.”
While the Plaza is creating permanent space for the horses and steers in downtown, south of town on Las Vegas Boulevard, the South Point hotel-casino’s world-class equestrian center is getting ready to host the richest team roper competition called the World Series of Team Roping.
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This is what sets Las Vegas’ sports market apart from all other markets in this country — the big leagues of hockey and football are layered atop Vegas’ old-time sports in town like the rodeo, plus the fight game (boxing and MMA), the major leagues of car racing at the Speedway and even the big leagues of golf next week when the Shriners and their red fez hats come to TPC Summerlin.
But there’s more.
Las Vegas has always been a magnet for the wacky and the esoteric sports championships from three-wall handball in a parking lot across from the Stratosphere to ping-pong championships to the world’s best darts and poker players.
The new pro teams piled on the old Las Vegas-rooted events and super-niche sports championships all drive tourism thanks to both the competitors and spectators, while selling and showcasing Las Vegas for its diversified sports market.
This multi-dimensional scene differentiates Las Vegas from the rest of the market and keeps LVSportsBiz.com on its toes.
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