# @thrillist on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C3No04PsTXM
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/11030289-thrillist-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/9ff3e37241.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-02-11T15:59:11.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** thrillist (@Thrillist) — https://gondola.cc/Thrillist

## Caption

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve already noticed the growing presence of sports in Vegas. A new NFL team and F1 were just the beginning; Vegas also won the rights to host the Men’s Final Four basketball tournament in 2028, and LeBron and Shaq have teased bringing a pro basketball team to town. But is it really for the love of the game? During last November’s inaugural Grand Prix, the Bellagio Fountain Club was serving up $135 cocktails (!) in leather racing shoes (?) with a side of Cirque du Soleil acts and celebrity chef pop-ups.  Which was a pretty good manifestation of Vegas’ sports gameplan: Promote sports as an experience, less tied to a local fan base and more focused on the game as entertainment. ⁠
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To see this new dynamic at play, just go to a Raiders game. Since the NFL team relocated from Oakland to Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, most lifelong Raiders fans aren’t able (or wanting) to drive 8+ hours to see them play for a new city; instead, Vegas tourists—including vocal fans of visiting teams—are filling the stands. With the stadium (and its many luxury boxes) full, revenue is rolling in. But it’s not exactly conducive to fostering homegrown fans; instead, emphasis is on entertainment for whoever wants to buy a ticket. ⁠
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That said, other newer franchises, like the NHL’s Las Vegas Knights and the WNBA champs the Aces have made inroads with locals. So how will all this sports action pan out for the city? Will sports fans roll the dice on the city’s latest tourism push— and will any of it benefit locals? Read more at our link in bio. #lasvegasweek⁠
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✍️: psiss⁠
📸: Ethan Miller/Getty Images⁠
📍: allegiantstadium⁠
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#lasvegas #vegas #sports #lasvegasraiders #majorleague #prosports #superbowl #superbowllviii #lasvegassuperbowl

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 273
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- **Comments:** 11

## Tags

superbowllviii, vegas, sports, lasvegasweek, lasvegas, lasvegasraiders, majorleague, lasvegassuperbowl, superbowl, prosports

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