Las Vegas has been a popular tourist destination for decades. That used to be because of gambling, but that’s not all it’s popular for. Las Vegas has grown into an entertainment destination for the whole family. Not only are there great theme parks, shopping options and shows—there’s also plenty for sports fans. And these options for sports fans are growing even more as Las Vegas continues to grow as a hub for pro sports. In this article, we’re going to look at how it has happened and what the options are if you want to catch an event or game when you visit, or when you can tear yourself away from the slot machines.
Boxing
When Las Vegas started growing over the last few decades, casino bosses wanted more ways to attract visitors to the city. That initially meant attracting gamblers, but also sports fans. Alongside shows from stars like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, one way Vegas started becoming more popular was thanks to boxing. People starting visiting Vegas from all over the country to see various events, so you can bet in person rather than in your own state where it might never have been allowed. Things are changing, though—as you can see from sites like those offering West Virginia Online Sports Betting.
Boxing has been a big part of Vegas for decades now, and some of the most famous fights in the sport’s history have continued to take place there. On the night of a big fight, the strip is absolutely thriving and all the casinos make a lot more money.
When you think about it, sports make sense in Vegas. While American sports have not always been closely linked to gambling, they are in some other parts of the world. And if you want to bet on a team or result, having actual teams based in the city seems an obvious choice. While boxing has attracted fight fans for a number of years, Vegas wanted to branch out to sports with wider audiences. In the last few years, more teams have relocated or moved to the city. This movement looks set to continue, and Las Vegas could become one of the hotbeds of American sport.
Hockey
Vegas did host a game between The LA Kings and New York Rangers back in 1991, but in 2017 NHL fans in Vegas had reason to celebrate when the Vegas Golden Knights moved to the city. If that wasn’t enough, the Golden Knights made it all the way to the
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (#29) of the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Left Wing Oskar Lindblom (#23) of the Philadelphia Flyers File photo by Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com
Stanley Cup Finals in their very first season. This helped them make an impact and they’ve already become a popular addition to the sports on offer in the city. Sadly for Vegas hockey fans, they didn’t win against the Capitals in the final, but they’ll be hoping to get back there soon.
Football
The Oakland Raiders look set to move to Vegas in the next couple of years, becoming the city’s first-ever NFL team. This could help make the city even more popular for football fans.
Other sports
There have also been proposed moves to Vegas for some Major League Baseball teams, as well as teams from the NBA, WNBA and soccer. While these haven’t been finalized yet—Vegas looks set to become a city with multiple professional sports teams as it continues to grow.
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