--- title: "How Could Pro Sports Shake Up Vegas?" id: "33873" type: "post" slug: "how-could-pro-sports-shake-up-vegas" published_at: "2016-06-22T20:56:22+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:48:25+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/06/22/how-could-pro-sports-shake-up-vegas/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/06/22/how-could-pro-sports-shake-up-vegas.md" excerpt: "The major convention hub, on the cusp of getting an NHL team, hits a crossroads as the traditional gambling stigma starts to fade. Also: What big donors are really thinking." taxonomy_category: - "Business Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "e-sports" - "Las Vegas" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » How Could Pro Sports Shake Up Vegas? There’s no shortage of entertainment options in Las Vegas, but one thing that’s eluded the city for years is a major sports team. The leagues have resisted the idea because of Vegas’ other major industry: legalized gambling. But that appears to be changing. [Today, the National Hockey League is expected to announce (opens in a new tab)](http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/120257/top-notes-to-know-nhl-headed-to-las-vegas) that it’s bringing a team to the city—the first expansion that the NHL has allowed in more than 15 years. The league’s decision could lead to other major teams showing up, including an NFL team. The American Gaming Association has been pushing for big-league sports in Vegas. “The placement of the first major professional sports franchise in Las Vegas reflects a rapidly evolving view of gaming as an important, mainstream segment of the broader economy that supports 1.7 million jobs and serves as a community partner in 40 states,” AGA stated last week, [as word of the NHL expansion first leaked out (opens in a new tab)](https://www.americangaming.org/newsroom/press-releasess/nhl-expanding-las-vegas-win-nevada-casino-gaming-fans) . [In comments to The New York Times (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/23/sports/hockey/las-vegas-nhl-expansion-team-nfl-oakland-raiders.html) , Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman argued that Vegas has room for both gambling and the major leagues. “Pro sports are a natural here,” she said. The *Times* noted that at least one prominent owner, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, has also suggested that pro sports would be a good fit for Vegas. How the addition of pro sports will shake up the convention mecca remains to be seen. ### Video of the Day **When a donor puts a lot of money on the table,** it’s a big decision. You often don’t know the donor’s reasons, but it isn’t necessarily the mission that matters most, says Colleen Dilenschneider, chief market engagement officer for Impacts Research & Development. Check out her latest video and the accompanying blog post to get an idea of [what givers of major gifts might have on their minds (opens in a new tab)](http://colleendilen.com/2016/06/22/what-wealthy-donors-consider-before-making-a-gift-greater-than-one-million-dollars-data/) . ### Other Links of Note **Awesome tool of the day.** [HubSpot’s Leadin (opens in a new tab)](http://leadin.hubspot.com/lead-flows) is a free product that allows the quick creation of email conversion pop-ups. **It’s important that your website remain up to date**, [argues Association Executive Management’s David M. Patt (opens in a new tab)](http://aem-patt.com/aem-blog/index.php?itemid=2111) . “Think of it as the front door to your association,” he says. **Is buying an AMS like building a house?** Aptify Engagement Manager (and new homeowner) Eric McDonald suggests it is [in his latest blog post (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.aptify.com/how-to-buy-ams-software-lessons-learned-from-a-new-home-owner) . The T-Mobile Arena, the sports venue that opened in Las Vegas in April. (Wikimedia Commons) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#e-sports](https://associationsnow.com/tag/e-sports/) [#Las Vegas](https://associationsnow.com/tag/las-vegas/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoPartnerships that Drive Success: ASAE Strategic Partnership AllianceAugust 26, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/26/partnerships-that-drive-success-asae-strategic-partnership-alliance/) - [VideoGenerate Leads and Brand Awareness: Master the ASAE MarketplaceJune 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/18/generate-leads-and-brand-awareness-master-the-asae-marketplace/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F06%2F22%2Fhow-could-pro-sports-shake-up-vegas%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !