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.
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NCAA Tournament
The top five Las Vegas players and top five games involving Las Vegas in the NCAA Tournament. UNLV, as expected, is well-represented.
The NCAA could go to single sites for the later rounds of its men’s basketball tournament, but likely not until at least the 2026-27 academic year.
The NCAA Tournament begins Thursday with the First Four.
The top five UNLV teams and top five local players who made a big impact on the NCAA Tournament.
Las Vegas was awarded a men’s basketball regional and hockey’s Frozen Four, and the city has its eyes on the Final Four and College Football Playoff National Championship.
The NCAA awarded nine championship events to Las Vegas on Wednesday, including two premier events to T-Mobile Arena.
It wasn’t long ago that Las Vegas officials wouldn’t even think of applying to host NCAA championships because the state was prohibited from doing so because of its legalized sports betting.
UNLV has a proud basketball history of appearing in four Final Fours, including winning the 1990 national championship.
The NCAA decided to not only cancel its men’s and women’s basketball championships, but all remaining winter and spring championships because of the spread of coronavirus.
Las Vegas took one step closer Friday to landing major college postseason events such as the Final Four men’s basketball tournament and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Boise State defeated Wyoming 68-51 on Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center to win its third consecutive Mountain West women’s basketball tournament and fourth in five years. The victory gave the Broncos the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA has at least temporarily changed its policy toward legalized sports betting, clearing the way for Las Vegas to bid on championship events such as the Final Four.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a nationwide ban on single-game legalized sports betting outside of Nevada. That could help Las Vegas’ case to host NCAA championship events, which currently is prohibited.
UNLV is certain to pocket nearly $100,000 next fiscal year — and about $600,000 over the next six years — and will get more if UNR continues to advance in the NCAA Tournament.