Sports in Las Vegas

UNLV Rebels

UNLV Rebels

Vegas Interactive Map

National Finals Rodeo

Sports in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of the biggest cities in America without a major league sports team, but lucky for us that does not mean that sports in Las Vegas are lacking in any way. In fact, the Las Vegas sports scene actually includes lots of events for fans of every sport.

The Las Vegas sports schedule is full of games from the local University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Division I athletic teams. The Rebels have strong basketball and football teams that regularly play in the Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium.

Vegas is also host to many exciting annual Vegas sporting events. From boxing to UFC, wrestling, rodeo and everything in between, the sporting events Las Vegas has each year are sure to entertain all sporting interests. Plan your Las Vegas vacation to coincide with these awesome annual Vegas sporting events.

And, of course, Las Vegas is unique in that if you go to sports books in the major hotel casinos in Las Vegas, you can sit back and bet on your favorite sports. If live action is not your thing but you love the rush of betting on sporting events, Vegas is one of the only cities in America where you can bet legally on major sports.

Annual Sports Events

Las Vegas is host to some of the best annual sporting events in the world. The Las Vegas sports schedule includes events that are sure to interest any avid sports fan. Here are some of our favorite annual sports in Las Vegas. 

• National Finals Rodeo: This event attracts over 200,000 fans to Las Vegas in early December of each year and has all of the best rodeo sports events. The heat is on with over $5.5 million in prizes for contestants!
• Maaco Bowl Las Vegas:  This NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game is played in the Sam Boyd Stadium each late-December in Las Vegas. It is an absolute must for all college football fans out there.
• USA Sevens: The second weekend of February in Las Vegas brings rugby fans from all over to see this event in the IRB Sevens World Series. 
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: As the top racing series for NASCAR, the Sprint Cup Series in Vegas draws up to 165,000 fans each year. Usually the 3rd race on the Sprint Cup schedule, this Las Vegas event draws an eclectic crowd of racing fans to Sin City each March.

Las Vegas Sports Teams

While Vegas doesn't have a major league sports teams, the city does boast several professional Vegas sports teams that are worth your time if you're in Vegas during the season. Whether you're a local, a first-time visitor or a well-seasoned Vegas veteran, show some support for the city by cheering on sports in Las Vegas.

• Las Vegas 51s: This Las Vegas baseball team competes in the Pacific Coast League and plays at Cashman Field in Vegas. Formerly the Las Vegas Stars, the team gets its name from Area 51, the supposed site of a UFO landing. The 51s won the PCL Championship in 1986 and 1988, and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Las Vegas Wranglers: If you're into seeing some rough and tumble contact sports, ice hockey in Vegas is the way to go! The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL and have the highest winning percentage in ECHL history. The Wranglers are affiliated with the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL.
• Las Vegas Locomotives: This team is called the "Locos" for short and they are sure to drive you crazy. Bringing American football to Vegas, the Locomotives play in the United Football league and won both the 2009 and 2010 UFL Championship Games.