Las Vegas has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades. It is still, at times, deserving of the “Sin City” moniker and remains a hotbed of tourism but the economy has matured and diversified. The city has a thriving tech startup scene and also a highly underrated grassroots arts scene.
Tourism is still the heartbeat of the city’s economy, however, much to the chagrin of critics. Some believe it is still too dependent on casinos to bring in visitors and tax revenues and supply jobs but there is also evidence that the tourist economy is moving away from that (over)reliance on casinos.
Big sports leagues have set down roots in Vegas
Arguably that’s best exemplified in the professional sports offering in the city. Ten years ago, Las Vegas had no major professional sports team. Today it has the Las Vegas Raiders (NFL), the Golden Knights (NHL) and the Aces (WNBA). It also has a soccer team, the Las Vegas Lights, albeit in the secondary USL Championship of the Major League Soccer pyramid.
The city isn’t stopping there either. The Athletics are in the process of moving from Oakland to Las Vegas, giving the city its first MLB team. There have been a couple of technical hitches with that, but it is expected to happen soon. The NBA is targeting the start of the 2028/29 season for an expansion team in Las Vegas. It’s not completely finalized yet – there hasn’t even been a name chosen – but once again, it’s almost certain to happen.
The bottom line is that Vegas will be a Big 4 sports city, putting it on a par with mega metropolises like NYC, LA and Chicago, as well as a smattering of ‘older’ East Coast cities like Boston. For tourism it’s a massive pull.
A sense of future-proofing the tourist economy
Of course, it’s not the case that sports will replace casino entertainment as a reason for visiting. Moreover, there is some overlap there with Vegas’ sports betting scene. But you can also get the impression that this feels like a kind of futureproofing. Casino revenues in Las Vegas are healthy but it’s also an activity that many tourists, especially international tourists can do at home now. Games like real-money roulette, blackjack, slots and more can be accessed on a smartphone or PC, so there’s no need for a lot of people to go to Nevada for the specific intention of playing at a casino.
That said, the casino resorts obviously offer a different experience from the online gaming world and there is no sense that the vast casinos are going to be shutting their doors anytime soon, even if the travails of the Atlantic City casino resort sector act as a cautionary tale.
Nevertheless, the growing sports scene is a huge jewel in the Vegas tourism crown. There are other big attractions not related to casino gaming, not least the nightclubs and pool parties, coupled with huge musical festivals. Indeed, speak to younger travellers en route to Harry Reid International Airport, and they’ll gladly tell you that they are there to experience the social thrills of Vegas night and day life and that any casino gaming might be a secondary consideration.
For sports fans there is an incentive to go to Vegas all year round. The NFL, NHL and NBA seasons play across the fall into spring, whereas the WNBA, MLB and MLS seasons work across the spring, through summer and into the fall. There’s always a fair chance a top-tier sports event is happening in the city, and that’s only going to become more apparent once the MLB and NBA teams arrive.
Sin City has become Sports City. In all likelihood it will probably complement the casino economy rather than detract from it. Whatever happens, it puts the city in an even stronger position as a tourist attraction.
Top image by Kevin Schmid from Pixabay
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