Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena has hosted the Pac-12 men's basketball tournament the least three yearsGETTY IMAGES
Las Vegas "took one step closer" on Friday to landing major college postseason events such as the Final Four and CFP National Championship, as the NCAA will now "permit states that have legal sports wagering to host championship events," according to Mark Anderson of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Las Vegas can now "begin bidding for these events later this year and could see major sporting championships and regional events" in the city within five years. As soon as this summer, UNLV, Las Vegas Events and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority can "jointly bid to host NCAA championships" beginning with the '22-23 academic year through '26-27 (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/4). In L.A., Arash Markazi wrote the policy change is "another milestone moment for a city that has gone from taboo to transformative for sports leagues." Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson said, "For as long as I can remember we have not had the opportunity to compete for these major championship events. Now, with both the policy being rescinded and these new facilities we have in a destination city like Las Vegas, everything is falling into place for us." Markazi noted the next Final Four Las Vegas could bid on would not be until '27 and the next CFP National Championship "up for grabs" is in '25. Christenson said Las Vegas "wouldn't bid to host games in the first and second round" of the NCAA Tournament. Christenson: "It's already one of our top weekends of the year but we do want a regional and we do want a Final Four" (L.A. TIMES, 5/5).
