Resorts World Las Vegas is positioning the North Strip as a potential site for an arena for a future NBA expansion team, as the league continues its search for franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle.
The five-year-old integrated resort has met with groups bidding for a Las Vegas franchise, according to a company spokesperson, although details of the discussions have not been disclosed, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Carlos Castro, President and Chief Financial Officer of Resorts World Las Vegas, said the North Strip is the best location for a potential NBA arena. “Between Resorts World, Wynn and Fontainebleau, this corridor has become a true luxury resort and entertainment destination, and there’s still tremendous opportunity ahead,” Castro stated.
Resorts World has 42 acres available for development, with access to both the Las Vegas Strip and Sammy Davis Jr. Drive. The $4.3 billion integrated resort also has existing infrastructure to support a project of this scale, Castro said. “An NBA team and a new arena would be the next great driver of visitation to this city,” he added.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last month, following a meeting of the league’s Board of Governors, that team owners had received a presentation on a potential Las Vegas arena. He also discussed the possibility of building a “new modern entertainment palace” in the city as part of the expansion.
A North Strip arena could host 41 NBA regular-season games each season, alongside other sporting events, concerts, and special events. The project could also benefit properties along Las Vegas Boulevard between Spring Mountain Road and Sahara Avenue.
Three groups remain in contention for the Las Vegas franchise. They include a group led by Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband, Bill Laurie; a group involving Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley and former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo; and a group featuring former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry and Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos.
The NBA intends to conclude the expansion bidding process by the end of 2026. New franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle could begin playing as early as the 2028-29 season.