Wynn, Red Rock Executives Tout NBA Prospects and Pro Sports as Las Vegas Tourism Boost

Casino executives from two of Las Vegas’ biggest gaming companies made it clear this week that a potential NBA franchise on the Strip would be more than just a nice trophy for the city — it would be a tourism engine. Lorenzo Fertitta, vice chair of Red Rock Resorts’ board, and Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings both touted the business case for pro sports in Las Vegas during second-quarter earnings calls, pointing to the success of the Golden Knights and Raiders as the blueprint for what an NBA team could deliver.

The comments come as the NBA works through a formal expansion process that could bring a 31st and 32nd franchise to the league for the first time since 2004, with Las Vegas and Seattle as the only two markets under consideration. Commissioner Adam Silver has said the league wants to reach a decision by the end of 2026, with any new team unlikely to take the court before the 2028-29 season.

The Case for an NBA Team on the Strip

Fertitta didn’t hold back when describing what pro sports franchises have meant for Red Rock Resorts’ bottom line. “There are a number of different benefits we get from it and a lot of interest as these professional teams come to Las Vegas,” he said on Tuesday’s earnings call, crediting the Golden Knights and Raiders with drawing fans who fill hotel rooms and spend at the tables.

Fertitta said the effect goes beyond casual visitors. Higher-end guests at Red Rock, Durango, and Green Valley Ranch have become regulars at Golden Knights and Raiders games, a relationship the company leans on for brand loyalty. He expects the same pattern to play out with the Athletics’ move to the Strip in 2028 and, potentially, with an NBA franchise. “I think when you start to get that amount of activity, Las Vegas is really turning into an events’ city,” Fertitta said, noting how table games business and premium play both get a lift whenever a major fight or sporting event is in town.

Wynn Weighs In on Visitation and Arena Plans

Billings offered a more measured but still bullish take when a Wall Street analyst asked about resort operators potentially partnering to build an arena for a Las Vegas NBA team. He said Wynn has no arena plans of its own but would still benefit from more teams calling the city home. Billings drew a distinction between leagues with heavy game counts that skew toward local fans and leagues like the NFL, whose limited, weekend-heavy schedule tends to draw premium visitors — a dynamic he said the Raiders exemplify for Wynn’s business.

“The NBA sits somewhere in between,” Billings said, adding that Wynn “would love to see an NBA franchise in Las Vegas” and expects to capture the same kind of premium visitation from league personnel and visiting teams that it already sees around Raiders games.

The remarks track with where the NBA’s expansion process actually stands. In March, the league’s Board of Governors voted to formally explore adding franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle, with reported bids in the $7 billion to $10 billion range. Silver has said multiple ownership groups are presenting financing and arena plans to the league’s bankers, though he’s stressed no informal agreements or commitments have been made.

What It Means for Vegas as a Betting and Entertainment Hub

For a city that has already reshaped its identity around the Raiders, Golden Knights, and a growing calendar of combat sports and entertainment events, an NBA franchise would add another year-round draw layered on top of an already crowded sports betting slate. Bettors tracking Nevada sportsbooks have watched the state’s betting market evolve alongside its sports scene, and a new NBA team would only add to the volume of local and national wagering interest tied to the city.

Billings also touched on the broader ownership landscape in Las Vegas gaming, addressing Tilman Fertitta’s move to take Caesars Entertainment private and Barry Diller’s People Inc. bid for MGM Resorts International. He characterized both deals as a reflection of the gaming industry being undervalued, adding that the shift toward private ownership among major operators isn’t new and has created a fragmented set of public comparables for investors to work with.