The Final Four is the latest major event announced to take place at Allegiant Stadium. The NFL Pro Bowl was played there this year and will again take place there in 2023. The Super Bowl is slated to take place at the stadium in 2024.
Basketball
Seven cities, including Las Vegas, have been deemed finalists for Final Four championships between 2027 and 2031, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Phoenix has long held a monopoly in the Southwest on hosting major sporting events. But that has changed with Las Vegas and Los Angeles adding new facilities.
There is no clear front-runner to win the 2023 college basketball national title. Three teams have been installed as favorites at Las Vegas sportsbooks.
Kansas bettors, including one who made a $1 million wager at Red Rock Resort sportsbook shortly before tipoff, were hoping for a cover in the final seconds.
“It was the greatest comeback in Mattress Mack history,” said Linda McIngvale, the wife of Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, after Kansas rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit.
It took a comeback for the ages, but the Jayhawks prevailed over North Carolina 72-69 on Monday night for the national championship.
Former Oklahoma forward Brady Manek has made a major impact in his only season at North Carolina, helping the Tar Heels to the NCAA title game against Kansas.
Kansas is a 4½-point favorite over North Carolina after opening as low as -3½, and the total is 152 for Monday’s NCAA championship game in New Orleans.
The Kansas Jayhawks had the nation’s No. 1-ranked basketball team two years ago before the NCAA Tournament was canceled because of the COVID pandemic.
Kansas has dominated as a top seed, winning its five NCAA Tournament games by an average of 16.2 points, while North Carolina has had a tougher path as a No. 8 seed.
North Carolina edged Duke in an NCAA Tournament Final Four semifinal that ended the coaching career of Mike Krzyzewski.
Houston furniture store owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale wagered $3.3M to win $6.2M at Caesars Sportsbook in Louisiana and $2.2M to win $4.2M at Barstool Sportsbook.
Longtime rival North Carolina is set to face Mike Krzyzewski and his Duke team in a second national semifinal on Saturday at the Caesars Superdome.
Caleb Daniels has come home to New Orleans to play in a Final Four, after having twice contracted COVID-19 and being diagnosed with a heart condition.