What Sports Teams Does Las Vegas, Nevada Have?

Las Vegas is a city of spectacle and performance that draws visitors from around the world. In recent years, sports franchises have made the decision to relocate to this tourist destination in search of immense profit. Currently, four franchises reside in Las Vegas, Nevada: the Las Vegas Aces, the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Vegas Golden Knights. Read on to learn about these teams and their path to Vegas.

What Are the Biggest Sports Teams in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Below are the professional sports teams located in Nevada:

• Las Vegas Aces
• Las Vegas Desert Dogs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Vegas Golden Knights

Las Vegas Aces

• Sport: Basketball
• League: Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Stadium: Michelob Ultra Center
• Founded: 1997
• Relocation to Las Vegas: 2018
• Championships: 1

In 2018, the Las Vegas Aces relocated from San Antonio and became the third WNBA franchise to play in a city without an NBA team. Founded as the Utah Starzz in 1997, the team relocated to San Antonio in 2003 and became known as the San Antonio Silver Stars. While playing in San Antonio from 2003 to 2017, the organization eventually shortened the team’s name to the San Antonio Stars.

After originally being sold from Spurs Sports & Entertainment to MGM Resorts in 2017, Mark Davis, the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, purchased the Aces in 2021. By 2022, the organization hired Becky Hammon as the WNBA’s highest-paid head coach and won the franchise’s first title with a 3-1 series victory over the Connecticut Sun.

Las Vegas Desert Dogs

• Sport: Box Lacrosse
• League: National Lacrosse League (NLL)
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Stadium: Michelob Ultra Center
• Founded: 2022
• Championships: 0

In 2022, the Las Vegas Desert Dogs became the fourth professional franchise in Las Vegas and the 15th team in the National Lacrosse League. Even in their first season, the Desert Dogs are led by a star-studded front office. With an ownership group of Wayne Gretzky, Dustin Johnson, Steve Nash, and Joe Tsai, the Desert Dogs will play 18 games in the team’s inaugural season. Additionally, Shawn Williams, a first-ballot NLL Hall of Fame inductee in 2021 who played in the league for 17 years was selected as the team’s Head Coach and General Manager.

Las Vegas Raiders

• Sport: Football
• League: National Football League (NFL)
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Stadium: Allegiant Stadium
• Founded: 1960
• Relocation to Las Vegas: 2020
• Championships: 3

Since the franchise’s founding in 1960, the Raiders have won three Super Bowl titles, produced thirty Hall of Fame inductees, and relocated on three occasions. Before moving to Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994, the Raiders resided in Oakland for the franchise’s first 22 seasons. By the 1994 season, legendary owner Al Davis chose to move the team back to Oakland.

After securing a move to Las Vegas and becoming the city’s third professional franchise, the Raiders began building Allegiant Stadium. This project cost roughly $1.9 billion and took 31 months to complete. Currently, Allegiant Stadium plays host to 65,000 fans. It contains the Al Davis Memorial Torch, a 93-foot tall 3D printed object considered one of the largest 3D printed materials in the world and is nicknamed the “Death Star.” As a venue for the Raiders, UNLV football, and various non-sporting attractions, Allegiant Stadium is surely one of the nation’s best stadium atmospheres.

Vegas Golden Knights

• Sport: Hockey
• League: National Hockey League (NHL)
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Stadium: T-Mobile Arena
• Founded: 2017
• Championships: 0

Typically, expansion franchises in professional sports struggle to achieve immediate success. However, after becoming the first professional team in Las Vegas and the 31st NHL franchise in 2017, the Golden Knights won their division and made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season. As only the third team in history to win its division in their first season, the Golden Knights utilized the expansion draft and free agency to compile a roster of unprotected and highly motivated players from around the NHL.

With five complete seasons under the franchise’s belt, the Golden Knights have qualified for the playoffs four times and narrowly missed a postseason berth in 2022. During home games at T-Mobile Arena, voted the best NHL atmosphere after a 2019 NHL Players’ Association survey, the Golden Knights create an incredible in-game experience for fans and players alike.

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