Published on: April 13, 2026, 08:08h. 

Updated on: April 13, 2026, 08:10h.

• Starr Vegas proposes a $10 billion state-of-the-art arena just 2 miles from the Las Vegas Strip
• The ambitious 63-acre development will feature a basketball arena, a retractable-roof soccer stadium and a casino
• This venture is the seventh proposal competing to bring an NBA franchise to Las Vegas

A new player has entered the increasingly competitive NBA expansion scene in Las Vegas. Starr Vegas Development has unveiled an ambitious $10 billion sports-focused resort district that will feature two sports venues along with a casino and sportsbook. This project is set to occupy 63 acres at the intersection of West Starr Avenue and South Las Vegas Boulevard, located 1.7 miles south of the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign.

This initiative was announced shortly after the NBA’s Board of Governors unanimously voted to formally consider expansion proposals for cities like Las Vegas and Seattle, opening avenues for ownership groups to present their arena visions.

CEO Chuck Haifley emphasized that this project is intended as a dedicated hub for the city’s future major sports franchise.

“We are constructing world-class venues for soccer, basketball, concerts, combat sports, and beyond — positioning Las Vegas as the epicenter for professional sports,” he remarked during the announcement.

The development team behind Starr Vegas asserts that they have already secured $6 billion for the $10 billion construction effort. The partnership features notable Southern Nevada land developers Larry Canarelli and K. Roohani, along with Lou Weisbach, who is concurrently involved in a competing proposal for a stadium for the Chicago Bears.

Game Day Aspirations

The plans encompass a 25,000-seat indoor arena designed for NBA and WNBA events, alongside a 50,000-seat multifunctional covered stadium for soccer and concerts featuring a retractable roof and views overlooking the Strip.

The concept also includes a casino and sportsbook, along with the Big Vision Tower — a unique rooftop venue accommodating up to 1,000 guests with full broadcast capabilities, named after Haifley’s long-running production and equipment rental business.

Adjacent to the sports venues will be a cultural district featuring a Don King boxing museum, a Las Vegas Combat Sports Hall of Fame, comedy venues, Broadway-style shows, and a proprietary ticketing service named Starr Tickets.

The master plan further envisions residential towers, retail offerings, office spaces, and hotels to establish a new southern hub for sports and entertainment, aiming to mitigate congestion along the Strip.

The development team is proactively engaging with NBA and MLS ownership groups, as well as existing Las Vegas franchises seeking upgraded facilities. (Hello, Aces!)

Haifley believes the timing is perfect, citing the upcoming Brightline West high-speed rail station and the long-term prospects of a supplementary airport as factors that will drive growth in the southern valley, marking it as the next major development zone in Las Vegas.

Competitive Landscape

However, Starr Vegas faces a challenging field. Here are six additional NBA arena proposals currently in various stages of development, ranked by their likelihood of securing a franchise:

1. T-Mobile Arena: MGM Resorts International and AEG are advocating for upgrades to Las Vegas’ existing venue to accommodate basketball alongside the Vegas Golden Knights hockey. Despite scheduling conflicts due to the overlap of both leagues’ seasons for 175-180 days each year, 11 arenas in the U.S. have successfully hosted both NBA and NHL teams.

2. Rio: In 2024, The Oak View Group, co-founded by former AEG president Tim Leiweke and music industry mogul Irving Azoff, shifted focus from their initial $10 billion arena project four miles from the Strip to a parking lot behind the off-Strip Rio property.

3 & 4: City of Las Vegas: This month, Mayor Shelley Berkley proposed two potential sites for a new NBA arena: a parking lot across from City Hall owned by the Plaza and the north parking lot of the World Market Center, managed by Blackstone Inc., which also owns the Cosmopolitan properties.

5: Resorts World: Recently, Nevada Gaming Control Board member George Assad encouraged Resorts World’s president Carlos Castro to consider constructing an NBA arena on the vacant land adjacent to Resorts World.

6: LVXP: A consortium of Las Vegas-based real estate experts has proposed a 752-foot, 2,605-unit tower project with an 18,000-seat arena and a 6,000-seat theater situated on land between the Sahara and Fontainebleau — an area that has been stagnant for over a decade since the All Net Arena proposal stalled.