Las Vegas NBA Expansion: 5 Places a Team Could Call Home

^{T-Mobile Arena is ready for an NBA team and sits between numerous casinos (Photo: Al Powers / MGM Resorts Newsroom)} 

LAS VEGAS – Once again, Las Vegas is a frontrunner for an NBA expansion franchise. Commissioner Adam Silver should be making the decision this summer.

This is not a new topic. In 2013, former commissioner David Stern expressed openness to a Las Vegas team, while MGM Resorts planned a new arena.

Interest heated up when T-Mobile Arena opened in 2016, but discussions did not become serious until a few years later when Oak View Group announced plans to self-finance an arena complex about a mile south of Mandalay Bay on Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road.

The speculation grew intense. Multiple parties, including former players LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, publicly expressed interest in partnering with investors to bring a team to Las Vegas. And last year, Oak View Group pulled the plug on the arena complex. 

So now what? If Las Vegas is awarded an NBA franchise, where will the team play?

There are several vacant land options on the Strip for whoever secures the rights to launch a Las Vegas NBA franchise. Here are five possible locations for a future team.

T-Mobile Arena is the Easiest Choice

T-Mobile Arena, located between New York-New York and Park MGM, is the most obvious option. The $375 million venue, built by MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

It's currently home to the Vegas Golden Knights, so the arena would host both an NBA and NHL team. But this is not the first occurrence, as Madison Square Garden in New York City is the home of the Knicks NBA team and the Rangers NHL team. However, it is not the newest arena and could begin showing its age by the time a team starts play. 

But in 2024, Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley said he would invest $300 million in arena upgrades to enable T-Mobile to host an NBA team. Foley already owns a 15% share of the arena, so this would really solidify his commitment to it.

LVXP Arena Has Been Waiting for Years

T-Mobile Arena might be a strong contender, but an ownership group may also prefer to build a new arena to establish its identity in the league.

In 2024, LVXP proposed a mixed-use complex on the land between Sahara and Fontainebleau. The site was previously home to Wet ’n Wild and was also once considered for the All Net Arena project, which ultimately collapsed amid multiple lawsuits.

The site could still support a new arena complex. However, the surrounding area may not need additional hotel rooms being right in between Fontainebleau and Sahara, and with Circus Circus and Resorts World a little further down the Strip.

Oak View Group Could Regain Interest in Vegas

Oak View Group develops and manages entertainment venues across the country. There could be renewed interest in Las Vegas if the city is awarded an NBA team.

Recent rumors suggest the company could build an arena on vacant land near Resorts World or the Rio. Both properties could benefit from additional foot traffic, rental income, and development fees.

The company is the most flexible partner for whoever wins the rights to operate a team in Las Vegas. Oak View Group could do the grunt work, while the owner oversees everything. 

The Las Vegas Festival Grounds are Underutilized

Phil Ruffin, owner of Circus Circus and Treasure Island, previously planned a retail complex and other development at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. The lot is technically part of Circus Circus and would have potentially directed visitors toward the hotel-casino.

Today, the site is used only a few times each year for music festivals and private events. The land was once rumored as a potential MLB stadium site before the Athletics chose the former Tropicana location.

The property remains underutilized and large enough for a basketball arena. Like other North Strip possibilities, it could help drive visitation to nearby casinos.

Wynn West is Unlikely

In 2017, Wynn Resorts purchased the vacant land across Las Vegas Boulevard that once housed the New Frontier hotel-casino. As of 2026, the land remains undeveloped despite ongoing speculation about a future resort tower informally called Wynn West.

During the company’s most recent earnings call, CEO Craig Billings said the land will eventually be used, possibly as late as 2032.

That could change if a buyer makes a compelling offer, though nearby parcels may be easier to acquire.