Raiders Owner Mark Davis Purchases WNBA Las Vegas Aces From MGM Resorts International
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis, frequently seen at Las Vegas Aces basketball games in the pre-pandemic days, has purchased the WNBA Las Vegas team from MGM Resorts International.
The Las Vegas Aces and Raiders issued a news release Thursday morning to share the news.
Davis has been a big fan of the Aces, one of 12 WNBA franchises that was bought by MGM Resorts International in 2017 and moved from San Antonio to Las Vegas to start play in Sin City in 2018.
MGM Resorts International, for years, has talked with the NBA about drawing an NBA franchise to T-Mobile Arena — a venue owned by MGM Resorts, Los-Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group (owner of the LA Kings of the NHL) and Golden Knights majority owner Bill Foley. Former MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren made it a goal of his to acquire the former San Antonio franchise in late 2017.
Many thought MGM Resorts bought the Aces as a lever to gain an NBA team. We shall see if Davis, now flush with more cash from the Raiders move to Las Vegas, stadium personal seat license revenues and corporate sponsorship deals, picks up the mantle from MGM Resorts and makes a run at an NBA team, too.
