Las Vegas Proposes Two Downtown Arena Sites

City aims to lure NBA expansion team with alternative locations

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:13pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the Las Vegas skyline and potential arena sites, with the buildings and landmarks broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.Las Vegas' bid to host an NBA expansion team heats up as the city proposes alternative downtown arena sites.Las Vegas Today

The City of Las Vegas has announced two potential downtown sites for a new NBA arena, as various resorts, investment groups, and jurisdictions across the Las Vegas valley compete to attract a potential expansion team. Mayor Shelley Berkley shared details of the city's proposals during a press conference, citing a parking lot across from City Hall and outdoor parking at the World Market Center as viable options.

Why it matters

Las Vegas has long been vying to land an NBA franchise, and the city's proposals for downtown arena sites represent the latest effort to position itself as a viable expansion market. With multiple parties jockeying for position, the selection of the arena location will be a critical factor in determining which proposal the NBA ultimately selects.

The details

Mayor Berkley said the city's proposed sites offer advantages over other locations, including proximity to a freeway and less congestion on the Las Vegas Strip. She plans to invite NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to tour the potential sites when he is next in town. Other proposed arena locations include T-Mobile Arena, Resorts World, the southwest off Blue Diamond and Las Vegas Boulevard, and the LVXP site off Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard.

  • Mayor Berkley is scheduled for a Zoom call with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver next week.
  • The city's proposals come as various resorts, investment groups, and jurisdictions across the Las Vegas valley compete to attract a potential NBA expansion team.

The players

Shelley Berkley

The Mayor of Las Vegas, who announced the city's proposals for two downtown arena sites.

Adam Silver

The NBA Commissioner, who Berkley plans to invite to tour the potential sites.

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What they’re saying

“'I know they're considering a number of locations. They're all in the county, and look, I don't have a problem with that...We have an alternative.'”

— Shelley Berkley, Mayor of Las Vegas

“'This is going to be a really important relationship partnership for the next couple of years, in addition to Vegas being the Entertainment Capital of the World, now being the Sports Capital of the world.'”

— Shelley Berkley, Mayor of Las Vegas

What’s next

Mayor Berkley will invite NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to tour the potential arena sites when he is next in town.

The takeaway

The competition to land an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas is heating up, with the city's proposals for downtown arena sites representing the latest effort to position itself as a viable option. The selection of the arena location will be a critical factor in the NBA's decision-making process.