Vegas Sports Slate Blazes into May with Derby, Knights & Aces

^{The Golden Knights will host at least two more games at T-Mobile Arena next week when they face off against the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the NHL playoffs. (Photo: Matty Simo / Casinos.com)}

May is one of the low-key fun months in Las Vegas for sports fans and bettors. The Kentucky Derby traditionally takes place on the first Saturday of May, which is the second day of the month this year. Parties stretch from downtown Las Vegas to the South Point, where the upstairs ballroom fills with horse players. 

Before and after the race on May 2, NBA and NHL playoff games, MLB matchups, and boxing round out the day. And why not watch all the action during the soft launch of Tailgate Beach Club at Mandalay Bay?

That leads into Cinco de Mayo. Parties continue after the exciting first weekend of the month and spill into Tuesday, May 5. Anyone looking for a good time can head to the Fremont Street Experience, where free live entertainment runs all day.

Mid-month, EDM fans descend on Las Vegas for the annual Electric Daisy Carnival. The festival takes place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but fans can catch some of the most popular DJs at casino nightclubs before the main event.

As the month winds down, poker players arrive for six weeks of World Series of Poker events at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The month culminates with Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25.

May seems light on local sports with a few major wagering events and area teams beginning and ending their respective seasons. But the stakes are high as the Vegas Golden Knights continue their quest for a second Stanley Cup and the three-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces tip off their ninth campaign in Sin City later in the month.

May Live Sports in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas live sports calendar kicks off May 2 with a traditional Cinco de Mayo battle of Mexican boxers. Undefeated two-division world champion David "El Monstro" Benavidez will take on unified World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena.

This is a stacked card with eight matches, mostly featuring Mexican boxers. The co-main event features World Boxing Association super middleweight world champion Armando "Toro" Resendiz defending his title against former world champion Jaime Munguia in what should be a high-action bout.

The Golden Knights will not be playing at home this weekend after knocking out the Utah Mammoth in Game 6 of their first-round NHL playoff series on Friday in Salt Lake City. Game 7 of that series was originally scheduled for Sunday at T-Mobile Arena, which will now play host to Games 1 and 2 between the Knights and Anaheim Ducks next week when their second-round matchup gets underway (dates and times still TBD). 

The defending champion Aces begin their season slowly, with only two home games in May. Games begin at their home away from home, T-Mobile Arena, where reigning MVP A'ja Wilson and the Aces will host the Phoenix Mercury on May 9 and hold a ring ceremony celebrating their 2025 WNBA title. Then they will return to Mandalay Bay for most of their home games this season, starting against former Ace Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks on May 23.

Latest Las Vegas Sports News

The live calendar may be a bit slow this month, but there's plenty of other Las Vegas sports news impacting the future.

2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix Tickets On Sale

Tickets for the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix go on sale to the public on May 7. Practice tickets start at $50, while race-day tickets start at $393. Tickets covering all three days of race action also start at $393.

The best value for the weekend may be the $100 qualifying tickets, which are available when cars reach peak speeds during race weekend.

High rollers can opt for weekend passes at Gordon Ramsay at the F1 Garage starting at $28,885, or the Wynn Grid Club starting at $25,997.

2027 College Football Playoff National Championship 

It's worth reminding sports fans that the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship game will be played at Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 25, 2027, capping a weekend of events.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recently announced several events surrounding the game.

The AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! music event will highlight CFP festivities. Previous performers include Las Vegas residents Usher, Pitbull, Calvin Harris, and the Jonas Brothers. 

On Jan. 23, a media event will be free and open to the public at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The following day, fans can participate in the 5K or 10K Trophy Trots. That evening, fans can enjoy the Taste of the Championship, featuring cuisine from local chefs.

2029 Super Bowl

In February, rumors swirled that Las Vegas would host another Super Bowl within five years. That long-standing rumor was confirmed by the NFL. 

The 2029 Super Bowl will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Don't expect any updates until after the 2028 game is played. 

While the league makes plans far in advance, it doesn't make announcements until necessary.

NBA in Las Vegas

No bids have been submitted yet for an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas, but Bloomberg reports that Lakers legend Magic Johnson and Golden Knights owner Bill Foley are among those interested.

While no owner has emerged, two developers have pitched arenas for the team. Starr Vegas is proposed for land on Las Vegas Boulevard south of Mandalay Bay and near the South Point. In addition to an NBA arena, the complex would include hotels, a casino, a soccer stadium (possibly for an MLS team) and more.

Diamond Arena is being pitched for one of several vacant plots on the Strip, across the street from Mandalay Bay. The developer may incorporate the two giant pillars built for the scrapped SkyVue Las Vegas project in 2012.

If Foley bids for the team and wins, it seems he would likely opt to have the team play at the obvious venue, T-Mobile Arena, alongside his Golden Knights.