Las Vegas may soon have another arena fight on its hands, this time on a roughly 40-acre stretch tucked behind Paris Las Vegas, Horseshoe Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Caesars Entertainment and Strip landlord VICI Properties are working together on a proposal that could give the NBA a new home in the middle of the resort corridor.
The partnership surfaced during VICI’s second-quarter earnings call Thursday, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. VICI said it is working with Caesars on plans for an arena, while Sean McBurney, Caesars’ chief commercial officer and regional president, was identified as a key executive involved in the proposal.
A Prime Strip Parcel Already Built For Spectacle
The proposed site is not exactly an untouched patch of desert. The property is home to the BattleBots arena, and portions of the land are also used by Formula One for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, giving the arena concept a built-in connection to the Strip’s increasingly crowded calendar of mega-events.
The location could also offer Caesars and VICI something more valuable than a standalone sports venue: a potential anchor for hotel stays, restaurants, nightlife and major events across three major resorts. The Review-Journal reported that the land behind the properties totals roughly 40 acres, although the companies have not announced a construction schedule, seating capacity or financing plan.
NBA Expansion Window Is Finally Open
The proposal arrives as the NBA has moved Las Vegas from long-running wish list material into a formal expansion process. The league’s Board of Governors voted in March to explore new teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, and NBA.com said investment bank PJT Partners would evaluate potential markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure and the broader economic impact.
During a July 15 news conference at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Commissioner Adam Silver said multiple ownership groups were already pitching team financing, arena proposals and marketing plans. He also said league owners want to make a decision on expansion by the end of 2026, according to NBA.com.
Another Arena Proposal Enters A Crowded Field
Caesars and VICI are not the only players trying to get ahead of a possible NBA announcement. FOX5 Vegas recently reported that several Las Vegas groups are competing for an expansion team, including the backers of the proposed Las Vegas Diamond Arena near Mandalay Bay and a group tied to Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley.
For now, the Caesars-VICI plan is an arena proposal, not a franchise award or a groundbreaking announcement. But with the NBA weighing Las Vegas this year, the Strip’s next big contest may not be on the court—it may be over which resort, developer and arena site gets to host the city’s potential new team.
