Las Vegas Mayors Reflect on 27-Year Vision for City's Sports Dominance

Oscar and Carolyn Goodman discuss their persistence in luring major league sports to Sin City over decades.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:48am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fractured, multi-angled view of a Las Vegas sports stadium or arena, capturing the city's transformation into a premier destination for professional sports.The Goodmans' decades-long vision to make Las Vegas a sports powerhouse has reshaped the city's landscape and identity.Las Vegas Today

As Las Vegas becomes a hub for major league sports, former Mayor Oscar Goodman and current Mayor Carolyn Goodman reflect on their decades-long efforts to bring professional teams and events to the city. Goodman recalls telling NBA Commissioner David Stern that Las Vegas would get a team, despite Stern's initial opposition, while Carolyn Goodman has continued the push to bring MLS soccer to the city.

Why it matters

The Goodmans' long-term vision and persistence in attracting major sports leagues to Las Vegas has transformed the city into a premier destination for professional sports, boosting its economy and profile on the national stage. Their efforts have paid off with the arrival of the Raiders, Golden Knights, and the upcoming NBA All-Star game, solidifying Las Vegas' reputation as the 'Sports Capital of the World'.

The details

Oscar Goodman, who served as mayor from 1999 to 2011, began reaching out to sports commissioners as soon as he took office, determined to bring professional teams to Las Vegas. He famously told former NBA Commissioner David Stern that Las Vegas would get a team, despite Stern's strong opposition at the time. Goodman's perseverance paid off when Las Vegas hosted the NBA All-Star game in 2007, the first time the event was held outside an NBA city. Carolyn Goodman, who has been mayor since 2011, has continued her husband's vision, working behind the scenes to help bring MLS soccer to Las Vegas.

  • Oscar Goodman became mayor of Las Vegas in 1999.
  • The NBA All-Star game was held in Las Vegas in 2007.
  • Carolyn Goodman has been mayor of Las Vegas since 2011.

The players

Oscar Goodman

Former mayor of Las Vegas from 1999 to 2011, who worked to bring major league sports to the city.

Carolyn Goodman

Current mayor of Las Vegas since 2011, who has continued her husband's vision of attracting professional sports teams and events to the city.

David Stern

Former commissioner of the NBA, who initially opposed the idea of bringing a team to Las Vegas.

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What they’re saying

“Well, I know I told certain people so. I told the former commissioner of the NBA, David Stern, that it was going to happen. And he said, 'I will never let it happen over my dead body.' And I said, 'You know, the kind of people I represented, they could take care of that.'”

— Oscar Goodman, Former Mayor of Las Vegas

“Las Vegas is known. You may not speak the language of the country. Everybody always knows Las Vegas.”

— Carolyn Goodman, Mayor of Las Vegas

What’s next

Mayor Carolyn Goodman continues to work behind the scenes to bring an MLS soccer team to Las Vegas, further expanding the city's sports landscape.

The takeaway

The Goodmans' long-term vision and persistence in attracting major league sports to Las Vegas have transformed the city into a premier destination for professional sports, cementing its reputation as the 'Sports Capital of the World' and boosting its economy and profile on the national stage.