Las Vegas Desert Dogs Lacrosse Team Migrates To Lee’s Family Forum Arena In Henderson For 2024-25 Season
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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs lacrosse team is moving to the Lee’s Family Forum arena in the Green Valley area of Henderson from the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino on the Strip for the 2024-25 season.
The Lee’s Family Forum has about 6,000 seats, so it has a smaller capacity than the Michelob Ultra Arena, which has a capacity of about 10,000.
Lee’s Family Forum is run by Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, who built the $84 million arena at the site of the former Henderson Pavilion. The city of Henderson spent $42 million to help build the arena, while Foley matched it with $42 million. Technically, the city of Henderson owns the building, but Foley manages it and receives the lion’s share of the revenues.
The Desert Dogs of the National Lacrosse League will play nine home games at Lee’s Family Forum starting in December. The team was launched in July 2021 as an expansion franchise with its founders including well-known names like Wayne Gretzky, Dustin Johnson, Steve Nash, and Joe Tsai.
The move makes sense because the indoor lacrosse team appeals to suburban families with kids playing lacrosse. The Desert Dogs’ new arena for 2024-25 is in the heart of suburban Henderson.
In a lacrosse team press release, team CEO Paul Speaker was quoted, “Given most of our supporters call Southern Nevada home, this transition seamlessly aligns with our commitment to connect with local families and community members right in their neighborhoods.”
Foley’s sports group includes the Henderson Silver Knights, the VGK’s minor league hockey team that plays at the Lee’s Family Forum. The arena used to be called The Dollar Loan Center under the building’s original naming rights deal. The retail liquor store chain just recently bought the arena’s naming rights.
The Vegas Thrill women’s pro volleyball team plays at the arena as does Foley’s Vegas Knights Hawks of the Indoor Football League. The arena in Henderson did lose the NBA G League Ignite, which were closed down. The Thrill and Knights Hawks each have “Vegas” in their team names even though they play in an arena in Henderson. The Las Vegas Desert Dogs did not say whether they are keeping “Las Vegas” or changing the name to include, “Henderson.”
