Las Vegas Will Host the Final Four During the 2027-28 Season After Years of Not Being Considered a Realistic Destination
Just a few years ago, Las Vegas was considered to be where people go to place bets and play card games. Fast forward a few years, Sin City is now a prime destination for professional franchises that are considering a move and events.
The Final Four Will Be Heading to Las Vegas
The idea of bringing the Final Four to the Silver State was always an afterthought, as there were issues surrounding sports betting on collegiate teams and players. However, sports betting has increased over the last few years.
Some states have strict laws when trying to place wagers on in-state collegiate programs. States like Massachusetts will only allow that type of betting during significant events like March Madness.
The NCAA awarded the men’s national semifinals and the championship game to be hosted at Allegiant Stadium for the 2027-28 season. The NCAA also made several other announcements on Tuesday.
Three other locations will host the event, which includes Detroit in 2027, Indianapolis in 2029, and Dallas in 2030.
The NCAA selection committee chaired by Bradley athletic director Chris Reynolds shared his thoughts during a press conference;
We are excited to bring the NCAA’s premier championship to Las Vegas, a city that for several years has hosted numerous championships from several member conferences. The feedback from leagues, the fans of their teams, and the media covering the events staged there has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are confident we’ll get the same reviews when the Men’s Final Four is played at Allegiant Stadium.
Why Things Changed Rapidly?
Sports betting once had a bad reputation because athletic directors wanted to protect their student-athletes, so no harm comes their way. Some directors believed that sports wagering would affect many athletes’ performances when playing and when in the classroom setting.
Things have taken a complete 180 as sportsbook companies have expanded partnerships with a few collegiate programs. Pointsbet has a deal with the University of Colorado and the University of Maryland.
Caesars Sportsbooks has inked deals with Louisiana State University and Michigan State University. Even with jurisdictions like New York entering the sports betting industry, Nevada remains to be a prominent market in the industry. Las Vegas will continue to get customers and traffic from California as both initiatives failed during the Midterm Election.
Professional Teams Looking to Relocate to Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a destination for relocation, and league expansions as the Las Vegas Raiders and the Las Vegas Golden Knights are now a part of the city. Even though Commissioner Adam Silver is reluctant to pursue a move at the moment, rumors of an NBA expansion have also entered the picture. Las Vegas has hosted the NBA Summer League for years.
Following the Golden State Warriors’ move from Oakland to San Francisco, the Oakland Athletics may be on the move. The A’s have struggled recently and could use a move to expand their fanbase.
Las Vegas has numerous locations that could entice professional franchises in the next few years. The Silver State will undoubtedly be open for business.
