Published on: April 2, 2026, 05:20h.
Updated on: April 2, 2026, 05:27h.
Las Vegas aims to join the NBA scene. Currently, four locations are competing to become the home of a new NBA arena, but none are situated within Las Vegas city limits. (The Las Vegas Strip actually lies in Clark County, separate from the city’s official downtown area.) During a press briefing on April 2, Mayor Shelley Berkley unveiled two possible sites within the city for a professional basketball arena.
Berkley’s suggested locations include a parking lot in front of City Hall owned by the Plaza (Derek and Greg Stevens) and the north parking lot of the World Market Center, owned by Blackstone Inc., a major stakeholder in the Cosmopolitan.
“I understand that there are several venues under consideration,” Berkley stated to the media. “All of them are located in the county, and while that’s fine, we believe we have an alternative.”
An NBA venue outside city jurisdiction wouldn’t contribute tax revenue to the city.
Berkley mentioned that she will discuss her plans, which prioritize freeway access and sidestep Strip congestion, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in an upcoming Zoom meeting next week.
She emphasized that these negotiations are part of a strategic initiative to position Las Vegas favorably for future NBA expansion and to solidify its standing as a premier sports hub.
“This relationship will be crucial in the years ahead. In addition to being the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas aims to emerge as the Sports Capital as well,” she remarked.
Current Arena Proposals
With Berkleys’ proposals, the total number of potential NBA arena sites rises to six, factoring in these additional four:
- Rio: The Oak View Group, which had previously scrapped plans for an arena near the Strip, has redirected its focus to the parking lot behind the off-Strip Rio.
- LVXP: A consortium of Las Vegas real estate experts has pitched a 752-foot high, 2,605-unit hotel and condominium project, featuring an 18,000-seat arena and a 6,000-seat theater, on property located between the Sahara and Fontainebleau.
- Resorts World: Last month, George Assad of the Nevada Gaming Control Board encouraged Resorts World President Carlos Castro to consider constructing an NBA arena on unused land at Resorts World.
- T-Mobile Arena: MGM Resorts International is advocating for enhancements to Las Vegas’ existing T-Mobile Arena to enable it to accommodate basketball, alongside the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. Despite the logistical challenges due to the overlap of both seasons for 175-180 days, 11 arenas across the country successfully handle both NBA and NHL teams.