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[ FE A T UR E ]

“We’re optimistic,” Christenson said in the Sun article. “I think the
relationship between the NCAA and Las Vegas has been improving
a lot in the past two or three years. We think we’re an attractive
destination and there aren’t all that many options for regionals in the
West.”
Another key player in the future of events in Las Vegas is Raiders
president Marc Badain, who will help oversee the stadium in
partnership with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority board. The NFL will
hold the 2020 draft in Las Vegas and the full court press is on to attract
a Super Bowl, which some analysts estimate could drive $1 billion into
the local economy.
“We’ve been involved in some other events and some other promotions,
but not to the scale that we’re walking into here,” Badain told the Las
Vegas Review-Journal recently. “In the past year, we’ve met with dozens
of large-scale events that want to come here, some that are already here, USA SEVENS
some that the venue didn’t exist here so now we’re talking about college
football non-conference games, conference championship games, other Rugby 7s features one of the world’s fastest growing sports at Sam
Boyd Stadium and the success of the annual Las Vegas event has
large sporting events, concert promoters, large-scale corporate events. helped push the United States team to the best in the world. Team
“We also want to make sure that it’s augmenting what’s already being USA has won two-straight USA Rugby Sevens in Las Vegas, an event
that attracted more than 100,000 fans in March.
done here because we don’t want to take business from somewhere else.
A lot of the conversations we’re having are with people that brought PHOTO COURTESY OF LAS VEGAS NEWS BUREAU
a 15,000- to 20,000-person event, and now the company wants to do
40,000 to 50,000.”
A venue that surpasses the new stadium in capacity is the Las Vegas
Motor Speedway, which annually hosts several marquee events in
addition to hundreds of smaller events. The highlights at the Speedway
are the two NASCAR Monster Energy Series races, two National Hot
Rod Association events and the Electronic Daisy Carnival, which
attracts more than 390,000 dance music lovers annually.
“There isn’t a better time for sports in Las Vegas,” Las Vegas Motor
Speedway president Chris Powell said in the same Sports Business

WADE SUNDELL
One of the events that truly put Las Vegas on the map as a major event
destination is the annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo when Las Vegas
turns into a cowboy town for 10 days and nights with the competition at the
Thomas & Mack Center, but other Western lifestyle events, concerts, after
parties, viewing parties and major expos like Cowboy Christmas take place all
over the city. The Wrangler NFR is Dec. 5-14.
PHOTO BY TOM DONOGHUE

ON THE COVER
Life is Beautiful is a downtown Las Vegas
celebration uniting people who love music,
art, food and ideas and headlined by some of
the biggest acts in music. The 2019 rendition
is Sept. 20-22
PHOTO COURTESY OF LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

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