Las Vegas is basking in a champion’s glow. The Aces recently celebrated the first four-game sweep in WNBA Finals history with a parade down the Strip in front of thousands of fans — a snapshot that captures the city’s successful burgeoning sports scene.
The days of poker and blackjack being the only games in town are long over. Vegas is going all in on becoming a global sports powerhouse. Whether it’s the Aces’ confetti-filled victory parties, high-octane F1 car races or the prospect of Major League Baseball coming, Vegas is winning right now — and the timing couldn’t be better for you to join in on all the fun.
Huddle Up Here
As one of the last properties on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip, Resorts World offers something most high-end hotels in the area can’t: a bit of solitude. Yes, there are world-class restaurants, more than 117,000 square feet of casino floor and a unique sportsbook connected to a Nashville-themed saloon here, but when you want to dial it all the way down, Resorts World’s more secluded location allows you to do that.
Accommodations-wise, guests have three options under the same roof. Las Vegas Hilton is a reliable choice with more than 1,600 rooms. Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World is a chic property with 1,496 rooms and suites filled with mid-century design touches, curated art and Byredo toiletries. Four-Star Crockfords Las Vegas, LXR Hotels & Resorts blows you away with luxury linens, spa-inspired bathrooms and impeccable service. And if all that weren’t enough to make the Crockfords play, the swanky hotel-within-a-hotel offers access to the new Zoox robotaxi service around town as well.
Check Out the Action
With three WNBA championships in the last four years, the Las Vegas Aces have unofficially christened their home venue, Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, as “the house that women’s hoops built.” But with MVP A’ja Wilson and the rest of the league on break until May 2026, locals and visitors wishing to express their fandom will have to venture to T-Mobile Arena, the home of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights.
One thing we love about watching the Golden Knights in the fall and winter is their in-game entertainment. It’s one of the most energetic NHL settings we’ve experienced in years. Game-day DJ Joe Green has the crowd grooving while all the pyrotechnics and between-period fun keep fans genuinely interested in what’s happening around the ice. And the vantage point from the sky-high Hyde Lounge is so amazing that you may think you need a special ticket for entry, but all that’s required is an ID that shows you’re over 21.
Though the biggest news for the Las Vegas Raiders over the past few years has been the hiring of legendary head coach Pete Carroll, their futuristic home venue, Allegiant Stadium, makes up for it with its own headlines. When the Raiders take to the field in upcoming games against Dallas (November 17) and Denver (December 7), be sure to check out the translucent roof; massive, operable walls; and the 92-foot Al Davis Torch.
Also, if you have time before the action, reserve your slot for the Countdown to Kickoff tour, where you can see restricted areas of the stadium and strut down the new Fabulous Tunnel Walk, a flashy, neon-lit walkway that players use to express their personal style before games.
Get in the Game
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take over the city on November 22. With the race, parties and a garage full of ancillary activities, Vegas will be quite hectic that weekend. Our best advice to those who want the racing experience without the traffic is to wait for Grand Prix Plaza to reopen in early 2026. A fully immersive experience, Grand Prix Plaza lets you walk through the history of the sport, allows you to build a virtual car and places you right in the middle of a pit stop for an unforgettable adrenaline-filled afternoon.
After taking a few virtual laps, throw on a helmet, get in an F1-inspired kart — with realistic engine sounds and a true Drag Reduction System in the steering wheel — and hit the same track that’s used for the Las Vegas Grand Prix (hence the Plaza’s seasonal shutdown, so the place can be configured for the actual race). There are genuine hairpin turns and real staffers waving caution flags. It’s the closest most people will ever get to walking in Max Verstappen’s racing boots.
Place Your Bets
According to Front Office Sports, more than $147 billion was wagered on sports in 2024. Ninety-five percent of that was done online through platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings. But where’s the fun in that? For the city’s best in-person experience, we put our money on Vegas’ largest sportsbook at Circa Resort & Casino. With a three-story screen showing the latest odds and live games surrounded by a 350-seat stadium setup, the place is a parlay-playing paradise. If you need a celebratory drink (or a consoling cold one) after the game, the always-open Overhang Bar resting above the wagering fun below delivers a front-row seat to all the action.
Should you want to cool off from the stressful games, Circa also offers Stadium Swim, a one-of-a-kind outdoor venue composed of six pools, food and drink outlets, 28 reservable cabanas and a 40-foot high-definition screen showing the day’s biggest games and the latest betting odds. Because the pools are temperature-controlled, the splashing playground is open 365 days a year.
Be a Part of Sports History
Tom Brady and Jim Gray know a thing or two about winning. Brady, of course, won seven Super Bowls with New England and Tampa Bay. Legendary sportscaster Gray has covered numerous Olympics, World Series and championship boxing events. The things they’ve collected and the stories they’ve been a part of over the years could fill a museum — which is precisely what they’ve done as curators of Fontainebleau’s new Hall of Excellence, an incredible gallery of memorabilia and memories sports fans must see for themselves.
The self-guided tour (with the likes of Morgan Freeman and Oprah Winfrey as your audio docents) takes you through a Trophy Room filled with Vince Lombardi trophies and Olympic medals and glass displays with everything from signed Muhammad Ali gloves to a tennis skirt worn by Serena Williams during her 2009 Australian Open-winning charge. There are priceless artifacts (Babe Ruth’s bat from the 1932 game where he called his home run) and culture-defining mementos (Nikes worn by Michael Jordan during his rookie season).
See the Future
While talks of an NBA team coming to Vegas are still a bit premature, Major League Baseball isn’t wasting any more time about hitting the desert. The Oakland A’s have been rebranded as the Las Vegas A’s and, in 2028, they’ll have a sparkling stadium that’s surrounded by a new casino-resort from Bally’s. The yet-unnamed venue you can see slowly rising from the dirt now will feature 33,000 seats, a stunning view of the MGM Grand across the street, a Kids Zone and much more.
“We thought the idea of being on the Strip was perfect,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told Forbes Travel Guide and others at the June stadium groundbreaking. “I think Vegas presented a real opportunity for Major League Baseball. It’s different than almost any other market. The tourism here presents an opportunity.”
