NBA Makes Strong Presence Known In Las Vegas During Next Two Weeks; Is New NBA Team Coming To Vegas Soon?
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
While the Vegas Golden Knights were busy winning the Stanley Cup and the Oakland Athletics received a $380 million gift from the state of Nevada to build a stadium on the Strip, the National Basketball Association was busy planning its annual mid-July Woodstock of Pro Hoops in Las Vegas.
The NBA Summer League has grown so large that it’s a worldwide summit of professional basketball — and more. Besides the fact that the association’s 30 teams will be playing exhibition games at Thomas & Mack Center and the adjoining Cox Pavilion from July 7-17, the NBA will be unveiling a mega-fanfest called, “NBA Con,” at Mandalay Bay Convention center.
From Friday to Sunday, the NBA will host thousands of roundball fans for a variety of hoops-theme displays and exhibits. The National Hockey League staged a similar fan event when it staged its All-Star Game here in 2022 and the NFL holds an experience event during its Super Bowl week in the host city. So, you’ll the NFL event in February when Las Vegas hosts Super Bowl 58.
While Nevada state lawmakers were persuaded to give $380 million to the A’s to help build a 30,000-seat stadium on the Strip, the NBA has a special place in Las Vegas. In many sports markets, residents get the chance to vote on a stadium subsidy. Not so in Nevada, where lawmakers — not the people — decided on the controversial question of giving public assistance to major league teams.
Talk of the NBA approving a new team in Las Vegas has picked up steam after the league said it will have in-season tournament semifinals in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and 9. The NBA will announce the in-season tourney event dates and info at NBA Con.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will be making appearances during the next 11 days.
Friday’s first day of summer league is a sellout at 17,500. A one-day pass for summer league is $45 and the NBA Con is $60 for adults and $30 for kids.
The MGM Sphere welcomes summer league to Las Vegas.
