Plans to build a new NBA arena in Las Vegas are undergoing changes, with the proposed location shifting to the site of the Rio Hotel and Casino. The city has recently welcomed NHL and NFL teams, with the MLB team Oakland Athletics also set to make Las Vegas their home in 2028. The only major sports league missing in the city is the NBA, but efforts to develop an arena for a potential basketball franchise have faced obstacles.
Initially, Oak View Group (OVG) planned to construct a 20,000-seat arena on a vacant site five miles from the Strip, along with a hotel casino featuring 2,000 rooms. However, reports now indicate that these plans have been abandoned due to a disagreement between OVG and Blue Diamond Acquisition, the company that owns the 25-acre site, over pricing.
The focus has now shifted to the Rio Hotel and Casino as the new potential location for the NBA arena. The Rio was previously considered for a new MLB ballpark, but the project ultimately moved to the former site of the Tropicana. Dreamscape, the owner of the Rio, has redirected its efforts towards developing the baseball stadium on part of its 88-acre property. OVG has begun conducting soil samples on the Rio site in preparation for a $10 billion NBA project.
OVG is not the only company vying to build an NBA-ready arena in Las Vegas. Another proposal from LVXP involves constructing a luxury resort with 2,500 rooms and an arena on the site of the old Wet ‘n’ Wild waterpark, near the Fontainebleau and Las Vegas Convention Center. Seattle is also a strong contender for an NBA team, as it remains a popular market since the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Despite these developments, Las Vegas still lacks an NBA team. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has expressed positive sentiments about the city as a potential location for a team, but the league has not confirmed any plans for expansion or relocation of current franchises. Discussions on potential expansion are expected to take place before the end of the current season.