Resorts World Makes Bid for NBA Arena in Vegas
In the vibrant city of Las Vegas, there's a growing buzz surrounding the possibility of a new NBA arena. One of the key players in this potential development is Resorts World Las Vegas, a $4.3 billion casino hotel that boasts over 42 acres of undeveloped land, offering significant growth potential.
Recent reports suggest that Resorts World Las Vegas has long eyed using some of its Strip acres to attract an NBA expansion franchise. This ambition has likely intensified since Jim Murren, the former CEO of MGM and current chairman of the property, took over last December.
Murren is widely credited with bringing the NBA's summer league to Sin City and steering MGM's acquisition of the Las Vegas Aces, one of the WNBA's most successful and valuable teams. He also expressed a strong desire to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas during a dinner with R.J. Cipriani, also known as Robin Hood 702, in 2018.
However, it's important to note that there are no assurances that Resorts World Las Vegas will be able to affect a deal for an NBA arena. The new ownership groups could pay $3 billion or more to the league for those privileges. Some NBA observers believe that following the sales of the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, league owners may have limited appetite for expansion.
As of late August 2025, there are no direct updates specifically confirming Resorts World Las Vegas’ bid for an NBA arena linked to the Lakers' sale or NBA expansion plans. The sale of the Lakers and its impact on NBA expansion or relocation remain distinct topics without direct links to Resorts World’s Las Vegas operations in available data.
There are several ownership groups preparing bids for arena projects within Las Vegas, but these bids or projects are not explicitly tied to Resorts World Las Vegas in the available information. The New Las Vegas Stadium project, focused on MLB (Athletics) and NFL (Raiders), is progressing with a scheduled completion in 2028, but it is unrelated to NBA considerations.
Resorts World itself is advancing a significant casino expansion in New York City, suggesting that the recent highlighted news does not suggest involvement in an NBA arena proposal in Las Vegas.
While the possibility of an NBA arena for Resorts World Las Vegas is an exciting prospect, it remains a developing story with no official announcements as of now. If newer information emerges, it may clarify any formal proposals or bids involving Resorts World Las Vegas for an NBA arena. Until then, the situation remains speculative.
- Resorts World Las Vegas, with its vast undeveloped land, has reportedly sought to use some of it to attract an NBA expansion franchise.
- Jim Murren, the current chairman of Resorts World Las Vegas, expressed a desire to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas in 2018.
- The new ownership groups might pay billions to the NBA for the privileges to bring a new team, but there's no guarantee that Resorts World Las Vegas will secured an NBA arena.
- As of August 2025, there are ongoing speculations about potential bids for arena projects within Las Vegas, but Resorts World Las Vegas' involvement in an NBA arena proposal is not explicitly confirmed in the available information.
