Las Vegas tourism leaders say sports activities now rival gaming as financial driver

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Tourism officers informed the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board Tuesday that skilled sports activities and marquee occasions have turn into a core a part of town’s financial technique, not simply its leisure lineup.

‘No ticket, no problem’

During the board assembly, LVCVA officers outlined how Las Vegas positioned itself as a vacation spot through the FIFA World Cup, regardless of not serving as a number metropolis.

“While we are not a host city, we’ve worked hard to position Las Vegas as the world’s watch party. Our message was simple: no ticket, no problem. Fans who could not attend matches in person could still be part of the global excitement through our watch parties, sports books, restaurants, bars, and resort activations across the destination,” mentioned Kate Wik, chief advertising officer for the LVCVA.

NBA Summer League as a mannequin

Officials mentioned the identical strategy is being utilized to the NBA Summer League, the place 33 groups play 76 video games at UNLV. The technique extends past the sector.

“The takeaway is we didn’t just show up for the games. We promoted, we produced, we amplified the experience around them on and off the court,” Wik mentioned.

Tourism because the engine

An trade analyst presenting to the board mentioned tourism stays the dominant pressure in Nevada’s financial system.

“This industry generates more jobs, more wages and salaries, more economic impact output than any other industry in the state of Nevada by a very wide margin. It generates a remarkable amount of social impact. It continues to be the heart of our economy,” mentioned Jeremy Aguero, an trade analyst.

Visitors — together with sports activities followers — pumped practically $51 billion into the Las Vegas Valley’s financial system final yr and supported one out of each three jobs, in accordance with figures offered on the assembly.

“Direct employment — those getting a paycheck directly from our tourism industry — is one out of every five jobs in our community. If we add the supplier and induced impacts, it’s roughly one out of every three jobs we have today,” Aguero mentioned.

Owning the second with out internet hosting the sport

Officials mentioned Las Vegas doesn’t should be an official host metropolis to learn financially from main sporting occasions.

“The takeaway is bigger than soccer. Las Vegas does not have to host the game to own the moment,” Wik mentioned.

Economists informed the board that Las Vegas is extra depending on tourism than some other U.S. metropolis of its measurement is on any single trade.