Sports in Las Vegas rose to a whole new level this year.
From getting a major league team to hosting big fights and even seeing major sports book renovations, local sports fans got quite a bit in the last 12 months. Many of them even being things sports fans never thought they?d see come to Sin City.
Here?s a list of gifts Las Vegas sports fans could say they got for Christmas this year:
MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS
Las Vegas landed its first major league sports team this year with the National Hockey League awarding Bill Foley an expansion team on June 22.
And aside from already having a venue built for the team in T-Mobile Arena, which opened its doors this year, before the Las Vegas expansion team was even announced, this gift just kept giving and giving.
Golden Knights? fans learned the official team name and logo, and even got the chance to purchase apparel, five months after the team was awarded.
Foley and team also purchased land and broke ground on a new practice facility promised to be ?best of its kind,? by Golden Knights? general manager George McPhee.
NEW UNLV BASKETBALL COACH
Technically UNLV basketball fans got the gift of two new head coaches this year ? but only one stayed.
The Rebels snatched coach Marvin Menzies to lead the Runnin? Rebels on April 16 after previously hired head coach Chris Beard left the program a week after being hired by UNLV to take a coaching job at Texas Tech.
Menzies replaced fired head coach Dave Rice.
MANNY PACQUIAO RETURN
Boxing fans were blessed with the return of Manny Pacquiao to Las Vegas this year. Pacquiao faced Jessie Vargas at Thomas & Mack Center in November.
While it wasn?t anywhere near the hype of his previous Las Vegas fight ? against Floyd Mayweather in 2015 ? the fight saw the future Hall of Famer beat Vargas by unanimous decision and take the WBO welterweight belt from Vargas? hands.
MCGREGOR
UFC and mixed martial arts fans got a lot of Conor McGregor this year ? two fights, and both against Nate Diaz.
McGregor and Diaz first met at UFC 196 on Mar. 5 where McGregor saw his first-ever loss by a second-round submission to Diaz. The two then met at UFC 202 for a rematch on Aug. 20 at T-Mobile Arena which saw McGregor get the win over Diaz by majority decision.
RONDA ROUSEY IS BACK
Speaking of UFC? she is back. Need we say more?
MMA fans get to see the former UFC women?s bantamweight champion return to action next week at UFC 207. Rousey has been out of the octagon for over a year after taking her first loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193.
Rousey is facing current bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes on Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena.
STADIUM APPROVAL
Southern Nevada may not have an NFL team, or any team to fill a 65-000-seat stadium, but pro football fans in Las Vegas did see the approval of a $1.9 billion domed stadium proposal this year.
The proposal, which was signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval in October, would be home to the NFL?s Raiders if the league allows them to relocate from Oakland ? a goal owner Mark Davis has been working towards for a long time.
SPORTS BOOK RENOVATIONS
For those who enjoy kicking back at the sports book on gameday to place bets and watch the games, many places around town made major improvements this year.
Station Casinos including Red Rock Resort, Boulder Station, Green Valley Ranch Resort, Sunset Station, Santa Fe Station and Palace Station all saw improvements in video capabilities, seating, displays and more.
The Westgate?s sports book had the biggest renovation of the year while the Venetian?s Lagasse Stadium debuted, bringing a high-end feel to sports viewing and dining.
EL TRI vs. ICELAND
We may not have a Major League Soccer team (or a even minor league team) but soccer fans in Las Vegas were gifted quite the announcement last month for an upcoming matchup. Mexico and Iceland will play a friendly match on Feb. 8 at Sam Boyd Stadium ahead of FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The game was announced last month and tickets are already on sale.
Three days later we get the return of Major League Soccer with an exhibition match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes.
