Inside Las Vegas

The Raiders have officially arrived in Sin City. Anticipation has mounted for weeks as details emerged about the team’s first home game in the city’s state-of-the-art 65,000 capacity Allegiant Stadium. The Raiders delivered a 34-24 win over the visiting New Orleans Saints, for a record of 2-0.

But it was halftime that signaled to the world that the Raiders were finally home. Hometown boys the Killers hit the Nobu Villa rooftop at Caesars Palace with Frontman Brandon Flowers welcoming the team to Vegas, and telling the Monday Night Football audience that “we have just the song for the occasion” before launching into a riveting performance of their signature anthem “Mr. Brightside.”

And it’s not just football with a bright future here. Las Vegas is no stranger to the fusion of professional sports and top-flight entertainment. Back in 2018, when the town hosted the Stanley Cup Finals, half-time entertainment included a set by Vegas-natives Panic! at the Disco—aboard a floating stage right in the middle of the iconic Fountains at the Bellagio.

And not just at half-time. Surprises that June included a free set by Lil’ Jon, “the King of Krunk,” at the pregame festivities at the Toshiba Plaza outside T-Mobile Arena. Bedecked in a Golden Knights Jersey, the rapper proclaimed his fandom for both the Knights and Vegas before getting the crowd pumped up.

The introduction to the Finals was purely Vegas, with a spectacle worthy of the Cirque. Following a booming announcement reminding the arena that “the West belongs to Vegas,” fans witnessed a breathless joust on the ice between the Golden Knight himself and an evil Capitals swordsman, who dropped in from the very rafters of the T-Mobile arena. All before a single player hit the ice.

You can bet that Vegas will continue to bring the best of music and sporting worlds together as only Sin City can.

Because that’s what we do.

The glory and the grandeur of MMA returns to Las Vegas Saturday, March 7 at the T-Mobile Arena. This doubleheader championship will decide both the middleweight title and the strawweight belt and is one of the more anticipated matchups of the season. Mixed Martial Arts has exploded in popularity since its first match in 1993. In 2006, the sports betting community realized that MMA betting revenues surpassed boxing’s for the first time–and Sin City took note. March’s contest is sure to lure MMA fanatics and high rollers alike to Sin City.

Drama lurks at the top of card, as the sport’s young Turks look to cement their positions at the top. The Women’s strawweight belt pits Weili “Wagnum” Zhang against former champ Joanna Jendrzejczyk. Zhang, fresh off a 20-win streak, reigns as the current UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion and the first Chinese to hold the title. Jendrzejczyk, meanwhile, is hungry to reclaim the title she lost in 2017. Don’t count out Jendrzejczyk: she remains the division’s most decorated fighter. Fans will be especially interested in this contest–the bad feeling each has for the other has been an open secret for months. Their contrasting fighting styles promise a fiery matchup.
Sharing the bill, middleweight fighter Israel “Stylebender” Adesanya faces off with challenger Yoel Romero. Current 18-0 champion Adesanya is a rising MMA star known for his powerful and flamboyant style. Rocketing to the top in a little over two years, Adesanya draws on experience as a dancer and kickboxer–unique even to MMA. That said, Romero may be coming off two losses, but this powerhouse is nowhere near down and out. Then, there’s this sidebar: at Adesanya’s recent presser, he trash-talked Romero with an ill-conceived reference to 9/11. As expected, this blew up on social media, and Adesanya quickly apologized.

Home to the Golden Knights, the T-Mobile arena in 2017 signed a multi-year deal to host MMA events. Voted “Best New Arena” by Pollstar magazine, this 20,000-seat venue bears testament to the growing popularity of MMA. T-Mobile offers 50 luxury suites and more than two dozen luxury loge boxes. The venue is also conveniently located near great restaurants, hotels, and attractions, lying just off the south side of the Strip. Inside the venue, seats in the upper sections are steeper than the norm ensuring great views even at a distance. Throw in a plethora of wireless charging stations, and you have a perfect place to get caught up in the heart-pounding excitement of MMA.

This second tournament of the year follows on the heels of UFC 246 held in January. As always, the Friday night prior features the tournament weigh-in, which is free and open to the public. Saturday’s events begin early in the afternoon with the first of several matches, culminating in the main card starting around 8:00 pm. Don’t forget that after the event, the night will still be young in Vegas, with opportunities for dining, dancing, and gaming all around the Strip.