Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Who doesn’t like throwing darts and beer festivals?
Certainly not the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).
At its monthly board meeting Tuesday, Las Vegas’ publicly-funded tourism agency doled out $450,000 to World Darts Ventures to host the Las Vegas World Masters Darts Championship & Beer Festival in July 2026-2028.
The board approved the $450,000 without a comment or word from any board member. The darts and beer event is projected to draw 50,000 attendees for seven days in mid-July, said Jennifer Hawkins, the LVCVA’s new vice president for sports business development.
While spending $450,000 in public money for darts and beer might seem like a lot of government dollars, that’s chump change compared to what the LVCVA will be spending to host the 2029 Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium. The LVCVA spent at least $55 million for the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas and it’s safe to say that number will be increasing for the NFL’s premier event in three years.
The LVCVA’s own data showed that three percent of visitors come to Las Vegas specifically to attend a sports event. With that in mind, LVCVA CEO Steve Hill said more staff power was needed to handle the uptick of major sports events like the 2027 CFP national title game, the 2028 Final Four and the 2029 Super Bowl.
“We’re growing,” Hill said of hiring a new chief sports officer, a new VP of sports events and Hawkins. LVSportsBiz.com asked the LVCVA for their annual salaries and the public agency is working on the public information request.
The LVCVA has a board made up of local elected officials and hotel/hospitality executives. The board members ask scant questions at these public meetings and there is hardly any discussion.
PSA