Las Vegas might be one of the best-known American tourist spots in the world. Although it is known for gambling and high-class hotel rooms, Las Vegas has a rich history of hosting top-name performers. As an entertainment mecca, Las Vegas also hosts sporting events, more so now because of professional sports organizations.
This is our list of 10 defining sports events that happened in Las Vegas. Our list goes beyond the standard Vegas information about boxing matches and sporting events. Las Vegas goers now depend on sports VOD and perhaps forget the cultural past that makes Vegas an ideal city for sporting events alongside the traditional boxing matches.
1. Evel Knievel Crash—This event must be at the top of all Vegas sporting event lists, notably because of its cultural significance. Daredevil Evel Knievel’s antics were at the top of cultural awareness in the later part of the 20th century. His first televised jump on 5 March 1967 on ABC’s Wide World of Sports started it all. Knievel jumped the Caesars Palace fountains then had one of the worst crashes of his career, all caught on camera.
The story goes that ABC didn’t want to air the jump live. Executives were afraid that if Knievel crashed the footage would be too shocking for audiences! Yet part of the appeal for Wide World of Sports was live sporting events! ABC executives from the sixties would be pleased to know that the footage of the crash has now been seen several million times.
2. NHL Expansion—Ice hockey in the desert? Yes! Unfortunately for posterity, the Vegas Golden Knights’ home opener was a tearjerker because just days earlier a gunman opened fire from a hotel room into a crowd of concert-goers. The result was 58 dead and a shocked nation. The Golden Knights retired Jersey #58 in recognition.
3. Tyson versus Holyfield—Boxing and Las Vegas occupy the same entertainment vibes, but not for biting off part of an ear off. The day was 28 June 1997. Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson were underway with their rematch fight. It was the third round when Tyson bit part of Holyfield’s ear off.
In the first of their two boxing matches, itself one of the greatest sporting events of all history, Holyfield was declared the winner in a controversial decision. Of course, no one knows why Tyson went for Holyfield’s ear. His career suffered from the incident as he was disqualified and then suspended from boxing.
4. A Laker Legend Sets a Record—For a handful of home games the new NBA expansion team, the Utah Jazz played their home games in Las Vegas. It was at one of those home games that The Jazz met the Lakers. The year was 1984. Kareem Abdul Jabbar was the Lakers’ star center. That night, with his legendary “skyhook,” the Lakers’ Center passed Chamberlain’s all-time scoring record.
5. Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield II—Yes, this is another boxing match. This one, however, has a unique distinction. The fight was delayed because someone flew a motor-powered paraglider into the ring, all caught on camera.
6. Raiders’ Las Vegas Home Opener—As home football openers go, this one stands out. The Raiders’ owner had wanted to move his team to Vegas for many years. The NFL blocked the move because of fear of betting on games. Unfortunately, the Raiders would play three more years in Oakland before officially moving. In regard to sporting events, they won their Vegas home opener.
7. Danica Patrick wins 4th Place—As an Indy Car driver, Danica Patrick had already gained notoriety. In a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011, she placed 4th, the highest placed finish for any woman in several decades.
8. McGregor Vs. Mayweather—Make no mistake about it, if you like boxing, this fight was epic. Why? Mayweather’s 10th round TKO gave him the all-time best record at 50-0. Granted, this fight took place in a Las Vegas suburb, but still.
9. World Series of Poker—Every year the World Series of Poker takes place in Las Vegas. Gambling is one of those areas where some call it a sport and others don’t. It earns a place on this list because of its relationship to gambling and to Las Vegas-style old-school poker players.
10. Rodeo Finals—Rodeo is a big deal in some parts of the USA. Once a year the rodeo finals come to town, turning Vegas into a Cowtown for a weak. The Las Vegas Rodeo Finals are a prestigious and well-known event on the circuit.
