Starr Vegas Proposes $10B Project for Vegas NBA Franchise Bid

Starr Vegas have drawn the spotlight on a potential Las Vegas NBA franchise, with a $10 billion proposal to build an arena in the Las Vegas Strip. Vegas is no stranger to sports teams and hosting events, with NHL, NFL and WNBA teams all based in Sin City. And it has hosted F1 Grand Prix events, and there is the imminent arrival of the MLB Athletics by 2028. They are also the frontrunners in the 2-team NBA franchise expansion, which was approved on 25 March.

This would be a massive project, and one that could also potentially host MLS, hockey, UFC, NBA, and March Madness events too. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that this conceptual project would also include hotels, retail locations, a casino and sportsbook, because big money can’t move far in Vegas without involving a good casino – or so it feels sometimes.

This is not final, nowhere near so, but the proposal has caught headlines and brought attention to how Vegas wants to bid for this NBA franchise spot. They have the influence to make a confident bid for the franchise spot, and if it does come through, it wouldn’t be crazy to imagine Vegas using it to build on its already massive gambling hub.

Context for the Vegas NBA Franchise Bid

The NBA 2-team expansion set for 2027 was approved late on March 25, and while nothing is official yet, Vegas and Seattle are the frontrunners to win the 2 new franchise spots. Seattle has a historic claim to an NBA team, and it seems a simple roadmap, with existing infrastructure and an eagerly waiting fanbase.

Las Vegas, on the other hand wants to invest big, and the Starr Vegas project for an NBA arena on the Vegas Strip would be a colossal move. There have been several proposals to solve the logistics of a Las Vegas NBA franchise, and this $10 billion proposal feels classic Vegas. It is not the only idea out there either. There are also more pragmatic options here, such as building on the existing T-Mobile Arena that belongs to the Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL hockey franchise in Vegas. A far more realistic proposal, in terms of budget and management, doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

Another prominent idea taking shape is a MAGI Group project, fronted by Magic Johnson, that would explore a celebrity-endorsed Vegas Strip arena. It casts a similar light to the Caesars Times Square NY Casino proposal backed by Jay Z, which was one of the early runners for a downstate casino license in New York. That bid ultimately failed. But Magic Johnson’s interest here feels more natural, given his status and sway in the NBA, and Vegas is the best place for investments of this scale and hype.

Proposals for a Vegas NBA-Ready Arena

Now just to be clear: the urban planners, investors, state authorities and gambling firms are not the ones deciding whether or not Vegas gets the NBA franchise. That is down to the Commissioner and the NBA Board of Governors. The NBA is effectively running a multi-layered tender process, where it has hired external advisors to evaluate the financial strength, revenue projections and viability for arenas. It is not a casino war, nor is it 100% guaranteed that Las Vegas will get a franchise in the NBA.

But this procurement phase is testing the waters to see how Vegas can size up a bid for the team against other cities. Given the fact that expansions in major US sports leagues are an extreme rarity, and that Vegas is slowly becoming a more recognized player in the sports scene, Vegas is a strong contender. And there is no shortage of proposals and bids to make those dreams come to fruition – not just with NBA arena and stadium projects, but full Vegas style hotels, retail blocks, casinos, sportsbooks and other amenities.

This is not a public procurement tender, but there have been big investors and firms lining up to pitch in their ideas.

Starr Vegas Project

• $10 billion Strip-based arena and integrated resort
• 18,000 20,000 seat NBA focused venue
• Hotel, casino resort, retail, and large sportsbook
• Designed to host events like March Madness, UFC, and concerts

A bold, all-in Vegas proposal, Starr Project is looking to combine basketball with a full entertainment hub. It is the most ambitious bid, and would see a stadium built that can also accommodate soccer, March Madness, UFC, and other sporting events.

The project would be near the Las Vegas Boulevard, introducing a 50,000 seat soccer and concert stadium, a covered roof with open views of the Strip, 120 VIP suites, and 30 broadcast 4k cameras. Separately, it would have a 25,000 seat NBA arena, and Starr Vegas is also proposing a casino and gaming spaces for pre and post-games.

Oak View Group Arena

• Privately financed, NBA ready arena off the Strip
• Backed by Oak View Group
• Focus on premium seating, suites, and media infrastructure
• Likely sportsbook partnerships without a full casino

Backed by experienced developers, this project is ambitious, but it doesn’t go over the top. It would see an NBA specialized arena built not too far off the Vegas Strip, and open opportunities for partnerships with sportsbooks. But without integrating casino or resort functions.

LVXP / Steelman Partners Project

• Designed by Steelman Partners
• Arena integrated into a wider entertainment district
• Rooftop fan zones, nightlife, and retail spaces
• Boutique casino and high end sportsbook elements

LVXP is looking to build something that is scalable and focuses on blending sports and gaming together. It would see specialist retail and fan zones set up to support the franchise, with the possibility to scale the project with a smaller casino and high-tech sports betting lounges.

T-Mobile Arena Upgrade

• Upgrade of the existing T-Mobile Arena
• Lower cost and faster timeline than new builds
• Backed by MGM Resorts International and AEG
• Potential for expanded VIP areas and sportsbook lounges

Sometimes the most practical options are the most sustainable, especially given the aggressive swings in Vegas’ commercial casino revenue, and the turbulent economic and political times we live in. The T-Arena is designed for the NHL franchise, but it has the infrastructure and can be scaled up to accommodate a potential NBA franchise, too.

All Net Resort & Arena

• A cancelled entertainment complex back in 2013
• Was revived by LVXP
• Proposes to build casino hotel towers and condominiums right now

The project that was pushed by former NBA player Jackie Robinson, this multi-purpose arena was revived and changed in 2024. LVXP developed a resort project and arena on the Strip, the project looks to be poised around building massive hotel towers and condominium units, but it could revisit the original plan with an NBA-ready arena (the All Net), as Jackie Robinson intended originally.

MAGI Group

• Led by Magic Johnson and the MAGI investment group
• Proposed Strip-based arena with strong commercial backing
• Focus on sponsorships, media rights, and premium fan experiences
• Likely inclusion of sportsbook and casino partnerships

A high profile investment bid, this one leans on Magic Johnson’s NBA credibility and business network. It’s less about flashy design and more about delivering a commercially powerful, league friendly franchise setup. Though no official announcements have been made about this project, it has only been referenced in bidder discussions.

Vegas’ Continuous Expansion Into Sports

Just 10 years ago, Las Vegas had no professional sports teams. It was Sin City, the casino gaming hub of America, that brought in tourists with tremendous hospitality, integrated resorts, and casino floors boasting thousands of games. In 2017, Vegas clinched its first major US sports franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL. After gaining approval in 2016, the team started the 2017 season. It was far from a publicity stunt; the Golden Knights actually went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2022-23.

Skip forward to 2020, and Vegas had the Las Vegas Aces (WNBA), and its NFL franchise, the Las Vegas Raiders who relocated from Oakland. Also, the Oakland A’s, a 9-time MLB World Series winner franchise, decided to move to Vegas in 2020, but this is still in the works and the team currently plays in Sacramento. Adding further diversity, Las Vegas hosted its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2023, with the circuit cutting right through the heart of the Vegas Strip.

In short, Las Vegas is quickly becoming a hot territory for sports franchises, and if it can nail the NBA franchise spot, then it will join a group of only 11 states that have franchises in the Big Four. NBA is the last piece of the puzzle here, as NHL (2017), NFL (2020), and MLB (2027?) are all there. So the hype around where they could play, which gambling firms will get first dibs on the stadium sportsbook/potential casino, and how big the arena/stadium should be are really all justified. Time will tell now, and while there is no deadline for when the pick is made and who wins the early-stage bids, commentators speculate we should have an answer sometime this year, for the franchise to be ready for the 2028 season and onwards.