Event hub

Big Games in Las Vegas

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026

What's next?

• Tue, Oct 13 · 7 p.m. PTNBA preseason: Warriors vs. Lakers^[6]T-Mobile Arena

What's booked for the future?

• 2027: College Football Playoff National Championship, Allegiant Stadium ^[5]
• 2029: Super Bowl LXIII, Allegiant Stadium ^[5]

How did Las Vegas become a big-event city so fast?

New buildings and new teams arrived within a few years of each other. Before 2016, Vegas's championship events were mostly boxing, the NFR and college tournaments ^[7][8][9]. Then T-Mobile Arena opened in 2016 and Allegiant Stadium in 2020 ^[4][5]. The NFL Draft came in 2022, the Super Bowl in 2024, and the NBA Cup finals from 2023 to 2025 ^[2][1][3]. The full list, with dates, is in the timeline below.

Big Games in Las Vegas: the timeline

1. Golf1983
   The PGA Tour's Las Vegas stop begins

   Fuzzy Zoeller won the inaugural event, which carried a then-record purse of $750,000. The tournament ran under various names through 2024.^[10][11]

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2. Golf1984
   Vegas hosts the PGA Tour's first $1 million purse

   The Las Vegas tournament became the first PGA Tour event to offer a purse above $1 million; Denis Watson won $162,000.^[10]

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3. Football1992
   The first Las Vegas Bowl

   The bowl debuted at Sam Boyd Stadium, where it stayed through 2019 before moving to Allegiant Stadium.^[12][13]

   Sam Boyd Stadium · permalink
4. Football1995
   Major college football's first overtime game

   Toledo beat Nevada 40–37 in the Las Vegas Bowl, the first overtime game in Division I-A college football.^[12]

   Sam Boyd Stadium · permalink
5. GolfOctober 1996
   Tiger Woods wins for the first time on Tour — in Las Vegas

   Woods beat Davis Love III in a playoff for his first PGA Tour victory.^[10]

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6. Football2000
   UNLV wins the Las Vegas Bowl

   Robinson's Rebels beat Arkansas 31–14 in their hometown bowl.^[14]

   UNLV · Sam Boyd Stadium · permalink
7. Basketball2004
   NBA Summer League launches at UNLV

   The Las Vegas Summer League started with six teams at the Thomas & Mack Center. Since 2018, all 30 NBA teams take part.^[15]

   Thomas & Mack Center · permalink
8. Basketball2007
   Mountain West tournaments settle in at the Thomas & Mack

   The conference's men's and women's basketball tournaments have been played at the arena every year since 2007.^[9][16]

   Thomas & Mack Center · permalink
9. BasketballFeb. 18, 2007
   The NBA All-Star Game comes to a city without a team

   The West beat the East 153–132 at the Thomas & Mack Center, and Kobe Bryant was MVP. It was the first All-Star Game held in a non-NBA city.^[17][9]

   Thomas & Mack Center · permalink
10. Basketball2009
    The WCC tournament moves to Las Vegas

    The 2009 West Coast Conference tournament was the first played at a neutral site — the Orleans Arena.^[18]

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11. BasketballMarch 13, 2012
    The Pac-12 commits its basketball tournament to Las Vegas

    The tournament moved to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, then to T-Mobile Arena once it opened in the 2016–17 season.^[19]

    MGM Grand Garden Arena · permalink
12. SoccerAug. 1, 2021
    Allegiant Stadium hosts the Gold Cup final

    The 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup final was played in Las Vegas.^[5]

    Allegiant Stadium · permalink
13. HockeyFeb. 5, 2022
    NHL All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena

    Las Vegas hosted the NHL All-Star Game for the first time.^[20]

    T-Mobile Arena · permalink
14. FootballFeb. 6, 2022
    The Pro Bowl comes to Allegiant Stadium

    The 2022 Pro Bowl was played in Las Vegas, which hosted again in 2023 when the event became the flag-football Pro Bowl Games.^[21][22]

    Allegiant Stadium · permalink
15. FootballApril 28, 2022
    The NFL Draft comes to the Strip

    The 2022 NFL Draft ran April 28–30 at Caesars Forum — the first draft held in Nevada.^[2]

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16. BasketballDec. 9, 2023
    The first NBA Cup is decided in Las Vegas

    The Lakers beat the Pacers in the In-Season Tournament championship at T-Mobile Arena, with LeBron James named MVP.^[23][3]

    T-Mobile Arena · permalink
17. FootballFeb. 11, 2024
    Super Bowl LVIII — Nevada's first Super Bowl

    The Chiefs beat the 49ers 25–22 in overtime at Allegiant Stadium in the longest Super Bowl ever played.^[1]

    Allegiant Stadium · permalink
18. FootballSept. 1, 2024
    A college football record crowd at Allegiant

    LSU vs. USC in the Vegas Kickoff Classic drew 63,969, the stadium's football record.^[5]

    Allegiant Stadium · permalink
19. GolfOctober 2024
    The PGA Tour's Las Vegas run ends after 42 years

    The Shriners Children's Open, held every October since 1983, played its final edition in 2024.^[11]

    permalink
20. BasketballDec. 17, 2024
    The Bucks win the NBA Cup in Las Vegas

    Milwaukee beat Oklahoma City in the second NBA Cup final, again at T-Mobile Arena.^[3]

    T-Mobile Arena · permalink
21. BasketballDec. 16, 2025
    The Knicks win the NBA Cup in Las Vegas

    New York beat San Antonio in the third NBA Cup final at T-Mobile Arena, then beat the Spurs again in the 2026 NBA Finals.^[3]

    T-Mobile Arena · permalink
22. HockeyApril 9, 2026
    The Frozen Four comes to T-Mobile Arena

    The arena hosted the NCAA men's ice hockey Frozen Four April 9–11, 2026.^[4]

    T-Mobile Arena · permalink
23. FootballJanuary 2027 · Upcoming
    Upcoming: the College Football Playoff title game

    Allegiant Stadium is scheduled to host the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2027.^[5]

    Allegiant Stadium · permalink
24. FootballFeb. 11, 2029 · Upcoming
    Upcoming: Super Bowl LXIII returns to Allegiant

    Las Vegas is scheduled to host its second Super Bowl.^[5]

    Allegiant Stadium · permalink