A Guide to All of the New Professional Sports Teams in Las Vegas

Dearica Hamby of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket
Dearica Hamby of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket | © Caesars Entertainment / Getty / Rob Haskins
Lissa Townsend Rodgers

From hockey, soccer and basketball to a revamped baseball squad and future football franchise, Las Vegas is becoming a city for sports.

For decades, Las Vegas lacked a professional sports team to call its own. The city was a center for sports betting, but never had a home game. Then, in 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights NHL expansion team kicked off their first season, followed by soccer and basketball teams. With a new football team and stadium on the way and a revamp to the minor-league baseball team, gathering to watch the game is a city-wide pastime.

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1. Guatemala

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

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A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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“We’re a major city and major cities have sports. It provides identity to the community,” Brett Lashbrook, owner of the Las Vegas Lights says. “The fast break of the Lakers, what the Green Bay Packers mean: they reflect their communities and they’re a source of pride. I think it’s silly how long it took for pro sports to come but the floodgates are open now.”

Hockey

The desert may seem to be an unlikely home for a hockey team, but the Vegas Golden Knights became the city’s heroes. The city’s first NHL team was given 500-1 odds to the win the Stanley Cup when the season opened, but it ended with the Knights making it all the way to the finals.

The team plays in the T-Mobile Arena on the Strip and the adjacent Park outdoor plaza often becomes a semi-tailgate party. The Golden Knights have made history by being the first expansion team to go to the NHL Finals in their first season and hopes are high that 2018-19 will bring the cup home.

Vegas Golden Knights NHL team, February of 2018

Basketball

The WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces come to Vegas from San Antonio, where they were known as the Stars. The team is coached by NBA Hall of Famer Bill Laimbeer and plays in the Mandalay Bay Arena, which was renovated for their arrival. “It’s exciting,” says Aces point guard Moriah Jefferson of the move, “I love meeting people in Las Vegas and getting a chance to immerse myself in the community is great.”

Another asset to the Aces team is 2018 1st overall draft pick A’ja Wilson, who has already put up strong play in several tough overtime games. “I think we’ve got a lot of new fire in the team and it’ll be exciting to watch,” says Jefferson.

Nia Coffey of the Las Vegas Aces

Soccer

Building ties to the community has always been the goal of the USL’s Las Vegas Lights FC. The soccer team sought public input on their name and logo and make sure to have players with local ties on their roster. “We are for Las Vegas and by Las Vegas” team owner Brett Lashbrook points out, “We became the first pro team to guarantee at least one local player—someone born here, raised here, went to high school or college here. And we actually have six local players now.”

The Lights (aka Luces) play at Cashman Field in downtown Las Vegas. “It’s a quarter-mile from Fremont Street—they have dinner, music, gambling—it gives everyone the option to do what they want after the game,” says Lashbrook, “We are part of Downtown Las Vegas and we wear it proudly.”

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Baseball

For years, the Las Vegas 51s have been a Triple-A minor-league baseball team affiliated with the New York Mets who play at Cashman Field. All of that is about to change. In 2019, the team will move into a new home near the neighborhood of Downtown Summerlin. “You couldn’t ask for a better location,” says Jim Gemma, media director of the 51s, noting that the new field will also host other events, too. “It’s going to be a win-win for everybody. It’s great for the player amenities, but also for the fans.”

He’s excited for a new field that he feels will up an already high-level game: “This is Triple-A—these players are so good, so professionally advanced, a lot of them should be in the league.” The team will also end its affiliation with the Mets and abandon its Area 51 moniker—buy those alien-design baseball caps while you still can…

Las Vegas 51s play the Nashville Sounds at Cashman Field

Football

There a number of large, empty lots along the strip south of the Mandalay Bay. In a few more years, one will be home to a stadium and that stadium will be home to the NFL’s Raiders. Planned for completion in 2020, the controversial $2 billion dollar stadium will also house UNLV football games. It remains to be seen how the Raiders will do in Las Vegas, but local football fans figure the fancy stadium will get them a Super Bowl, whether the Vegas team is in it or not.

Oakland Raiders NFL team
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