T-Mobile Arena

{{About-distinguish|the arena in Las Vegas|T-Mobile Center|T-Mobile Park|G-Mobile Arena}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = T-Mobile Arena

| nickname = The Fortress

| fullname =

| former names = Las Vegas Arena {{small|(planning/construction)}}

| logo_image = T-Mobile Arena logo 2022.svg

| logo_caption =

| image = T Mobile Arena The Strip Las Vegas (29798246202).jpg

| caption = T-Mobile Arena in 2016

| address = 3780 South Las Vegas Boulevard

| location = Paradise, Nevada, United States

| coordinates = {{coord|36|06|10|N|115|10|42|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = United States Las Vegas Strip#Nevada#USA

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Paradise##Location in Nevada##Location in the United States

| broke_ground = {{Start date and age|2014|5|1}}

| built =

| opened = {{Start date and age|2016|4|6}}

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed =

| publictransit = {{rint|mono}} Las Vegas Monorail
at MGM Grand
{{rint|bus}} RTC Transit routes 201, 301, 502, 605, 606, 607, 608, 902

| demolished =

| owner = {{ubl | Anschutz Entertainment Group {{small|(42.5%)}} | MGM Resorts International {{small|(42.5%)}} | Bill Foley {{small|(15%)}}{{cite news|title=NHL's Vegas owner buys share of arena|newspaper=Sports Business Journal|first=Daniel|last=Kaplan|date=October 3, 2016|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/10/03/Franchises/NHL-Vegas.aspx|access-date=June 5, 2018}}{{cite report|title=Form 10-K: Annual Report|publisher=MGM Resorts International|date=March 1, 2018|page=72|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789570/000156459018003942/mgm-10k_20171231.htm|via=EDGAR}} }}

| operator = MGM Resorts International

| surface =

| scoreboard =

| cost = $375 million

| architect = Populous

| project_manager = ICON Venue Group

| structural engineer = Thornton Tomasetti

| services engineer = ME Engineers

| general_contractor = Penta Building Group
Hunt Construction Group

| main_contractors =

| capacity = Basketball: 18,000 (20,000 with standing room)
Boxing/MMA/Pro Wrestling: 20,000
Concerts: 12,000–20,000
Ice hockey: 17,500 (20,000 with standing room)

| suites =

| record_attendance = Ice hockey: 19,058 (June 13, 2023)

| dimensions =

| acreage = {{convert|16|acre}}

| tenants = Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) (2017–present)
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2016–present)
Las Vegas Aces (2024–present) (certain games)

| embedded =

| website = {{URL|t-mobilearena.com}}

| public_transit =

| genre =

| production =

| seating_type =

| field_shape =

}}

T-Mobile Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States. Opened on April 6, 2016, it is the home arena of the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). A joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), T-Mobile Arena is situated on the Las Vegas Strip behind the New York-New York and Park MGM casino hotels. It's been nicknamed "The Fortress".

T-Mobile Arena has hosted various sports and entertainment events, with the latter including concerts, award shows, and beauty pageants. The arena has also hosted various combat sport events, including mixed martial arts (MMA), boxing, and professional wrestling. MMA promoter Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) signed a long-term tenancy agreement with T-Mobile Arena in 2017, under which it agreed to host four events per-year over the next seven years.

History

The Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) first tried to build an arena in Las Vegas in association with Harrah's Entertainment. In 2007, the joint venture announced they would build a 20,000 seat stadium behind the Bally's and Paris casino-hotels.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?id=2986775|title=Vegas, baby? Arena envisioned to draw pro team to city|publisher=ESPN|date=August 23, 2007}} Caesars Entertainment had previously envisioned using the location to build a baseball park, but the company's buyout by Harrah's cancelled the plans. Through the following year, Harrah's became uncertain on continuing with the project, not knowing if AEG would split the costs, and whether building a major league-ready stadium without a guaranteed franchise to play on it would be feasible during the 2008 financial crisis.{{cite news |title=Harrah's still wants arena, but how much will it pay? |first=Liz |last=Benston |newspaper=Las Vegas Sun |date=September 27, 2008 |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/sep/27/harrahs-still-wants-arena-how-much-will-it-pay/ |access-date=September 5, 2010}} The original plans were to break ground in June 2008 and finish the arena in 2010, but by 2009, it was revealed that the stalled project had not even done a traffic study despite being located near a busy intersection.{{cite web|url=http://www.8newsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=9704931|title=Insiders Tight Lipped on Las Vegas Arena|date=January 20, 2009|work=8NewsNow.com|access-date=April 7, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414020529/http://www.8newsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=9704931|archive-date=April 14, 2015}} In 2010, the plans were changed to use an area behind the Imperial Palace. However, given the financing would require a special taxation district, opposition from Clark County regarding using public money in the project stalled it even further.[http://arenadigest.com/201006123010/in-the-arena/miscellaneous/las-vegas-foundation-drops-arena-effort Las Vegas foundation drops arena effort] AEG eventually backed out completely by 2012, once MGM Resorts International came up with their own project using a terrain behind the New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts. This attracted AEG primarily for not relying on public funding.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/1567353/mgm-aeg-building-a-20000-seat-arena-on-the-las-vegas-strip|title=MGM & AEG Building a 20,000-Seat Arena on the Las Vegas Strip|agency=Associated Press|date=June 19, 2013|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 7, 2015}}

MGM and AEG announced their joint arena plan on March 1, 2013.{{cite news|title=MGM Resorts announces plan for 20,000-seat arena|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=March 1, 2013|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/01/mgm-resorts-announces-plan-20000-seat-arena/|access-date=January 21, 2015}} Plans were further fleshed out over the following months with the announcement of a $100-million pedestrian shopping area, The Park, to serve as a gateway to the arena,{{cite news|title=MGM has grand plans with trendy plaza, sports arena|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Howard|last=Stutz|date=April 18, 2013|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/mgm-has-grand-plans-trendy-plaza-sports-arena|access-date=January 21, 2015}} and the retention of prominent sports architecture firm Populous to design the project.{{cite news|title= World-famed architect announced for MGM arena|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Alan|last=Snel|date=June 18, 2013|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/world-famed-architect-announced-mgm-arena|access-date=January 21, 2015}} Other firms on the project include: the ICON Venue Group,{{cite news |title=AEG, MGM Resorts International Offer First Look at Arena on Las Vegas Strip|first=Alan|last=Snel|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/aeg-mgm-resorts-international-offer-first-look-arena-las-vegas-strip|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=November 5, 2013|access-date=May 8, 2014}} Thornton Tomasetti,{{cite news|title=New Arena Design Reflects Las Vegas's Milieu|first=Jenny|last=Jones|url=http://www.asce.org/cemagazine/Article.aspx?id=23622329784|work=Civil Engineering|date=February 18, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508224650/http://www.asce.org/cemagazine/Article.aspx?id=23622329784#.U2vjVoFdVic|archive-date=May 8, 2014}} ME Engineers,{{cite web |title=Designing a Winning Sports Venue|url=http://www.csemag.com/single-article/designing-a-winning-sports-venue/8949f2002680ba655595d42501fca8da.html|work=Consulting-Specifying Engineer|date=April 27, 2014|access-date=November 22, 2014}} Penta Building Group and Hunt Construction Group.{{cite news |title=Las Vegas Construction Poised to Prosper in 2014|first=Jennifer|last=Robison|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/business-press/las-vegas-construction-poised-prosper-2014|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=December 22, 2013|access-date=May 8, 2014}}

The project broke ground on May 1, 2014,{{cite news|title=Shovels in the Ground, Confetti in the Air as MGM/AEG Arena Construction Begins|first=Alan|last=Snel|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/shovels-ground-confetti-air-mgmaeg-arena-construction-begins|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=May 1, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2014}} followed by the demolition of existing buildings, and excavation of an oval area for the arena. The final steel beam of the structure was placed on May 27, 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/stadium/construction-workers-install-final-beam-mgm-arena-photos |title=Construction workers install final beam at MGM arena|first=Alan|last=Snel|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=May 27, 2015|access-date=July 8, 2015}}

In January 2016, T-Mobile US announced that it had acquired the naming rights to the new arena in a multi-year contract.{{cite news|title=Introducing T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas|url=https://newsroom.t-mobile.com/news-and-blogs/introducing-t-mobile-arena-in-las-vegas.htm|publisher=T-Mobile US|date=January 7, 2016|access-date=May 25, 2016}}{{cite news|last=Snel|first=Alan|title=T-Mobile buys naming rights to new Las Vegas arena|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/stadium/t-mobile-buys-naming-rights-to-new-las-vegas-arena/|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=January 7, 2016|access-date=February 24, 2018}} The arena held its grand opening on April 6, 2016, with a concert by Las Vegas natives The Killers, Shamir and Wayne Newton.{{cite web |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/the-strip/t-mobile-arena/what-others-are-saying-about-t-mobile-arena |title=What others are saying about T-Mobile Arena |last1=Casper |first1=Ashley |date=April 1, 2016 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |publisher=News + Media Capital Group LLC |access-date=April 2, 2016}} Country music artists Martina McBride and Cam performed at a soft opening on March 31, 2016.{{cite news |title=Martina McBride plays private concert at T-Mobile Arena stress test |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=April 1, 2016 |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/neon/sounds/martina-mcbride-plays-private-concert-t-mobile-arena-stress-test |access-date=April 1, 2016}}

In 2016, the National Hockey League awarded an expansion team to a Las Vegas ownership group led by Bill Foley, with T-Mobile Arena as its home venue.{{cite news |title=Las Vegas awarded NHL expansion team| newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |first=Steve |last=Carp |date=June 22, 2016 |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/hockey-vegas/las-vegas-awarded-nhl-expansion-team |access-date=June 22, 2016}} As part of the team's lease, Foley negotiated an option to buy a stake in the arena from MGM and AEG. He exercised that option in September 2016, buying a 15 percent interest for around $35 million.{{cite report |title=Form 10-K: Annual Report |publisher=MGM Resorts International |date=March 1, 2018 |page=82 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789570/000156459018003942/mgm-10k_20171231.htm |via=EDGAR}}

File:TMobile Arena Inside .jpg|Interior of venue, shown on March 31, 2016

File:Frozen Fury, Las Vegas (35162282886).jpg| Interior during a hockey game

File:T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.jpg|T-Mobile Arena at night

File:U2 Experience and Innocence Tour post-show Las Vegas 5-12-18.jpg|U2 at T-Mobile Arena

File:T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas (34836465501).jpg|T-Mobile Arena

Tenants

During its construction, T-Mobile Arena was pointed to as the home arena for a possible National Hockey League expansion team in Las Vegas.{{cite news|title=NHL says no credibility to report of Las Vegas expansion team|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/aug/27/nhl-expansion-rumors-las-vegas-there/|access-date=August 28, 2014|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=August 27, 2014}}{{cite news|title=NHL denies expansion report, including a second team in Toronto|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2014/08/27/second_nhl_team_could_be_on_its_way_to_toronto_report.html|access-date=August 28, 2014|work=Toronto Star|date=August 27, 2014}}{{cite news|title=Gallagher: Bettman has changed his tune on NHL expansion|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/Gallagher+Bettman+changed+tune+expansion/10150984/story.html|access-date=August 28, 2014|work=The Province}} The expansion bid was approved and announced by the NHL on June 22, 2016; the new team, the Vegas Golden Knights, began play in the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|last=Rosen|first=Dan|title=Las Vegas awarded NHL franchise|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/c-281010682?tid=281011650|publisher=National Hockey League|date=June 22, 2016|access-date=June 22, 2016}}

The Ultimate Fighting Championship's first event at the venue was UFC 200: Tate vs. Nunes, held on July 9, 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2015/9/4/9263609/ufc-200-set-for-july-9-2016-at-new-las-vegas-arena|title=UFC 200 set for July 9, 2016 at new Las Vegas Arena|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Dave Doyle|date=September 4, 2015|access-date=September 4, 2015}} In March 2017, the UFC signed a seven-year agreement to become an official tenant of T-Mobile Arena. The promotion agreed to host at least four events per-year at the facility, in exchange for receiving permanent retail space and signage.{{cite news|title=UFC to be an anchor tenant at T-Mobile Arena|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Adam|last=Hill|date=March 3, 2017|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/mma-ufc/ufc-to-be-an-anchor-tenant-at-t-mobile-arena/|access-date=October 8, 2017}}

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals moved to T-Mobile Arena in 2016, moving from the Thomas & Mack Center,{{cite web|title=PBR moves Built Ford Tough Series World Finals to new Las Vegas Arena in 2016|url=http://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2015/aug/16/pbr-moves-built-ford-tough-world-finals-new-las-ve/|website=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=June 24, 2016}} followed by the Pac-12 Conference men's basketball tournament, which moved from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.{{cite web|title=Pac-12 Tournament will move to larger Las Vegas arena in 2017|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649913/Pac-12-mens-basketball-tournament-moving-to-new-T-Mobile-Arena-in-Las-Vegas-next-season.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318052642/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649913/Pac-12-mens-basketball-tournament-moving-to-new-T-Mobile-Arena-in-Las-Vegas-next-season.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2016|website=Deseret News|access-date=June 24, 2016}} The PBR World Finals were held at T-Mobile Arena from 2016 to 2019, and again in 2021. Since 2022, the arena is home to the PBR Team Series Championship.{{cite web|title=PBR Team Series Championship at T-Mobile Arena|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/rodeo/professional-bull-riders/new-bull-riding-series-to-crown-team-champion-at-t-mobile-2669526/|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=November 3, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2023}}

The UNLV men's basketball team played at least one game at T-Mobile Arena in each of the first three seasons after the venue's opening. The Runnin' Rebels played and lost to Duke in December 2016,{{cite web|url=https://unlvrebels.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=56 |title=2016–17 Men's Basketball Schedule |publisher=UNLV Rebels |access-date=September 29, 2019}} defeated Rice and Utah in successive games in November 2017,{{cite web|url=https://unlvrebels.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=57 |title=2017–18 Men's Basketball Schedule |publisher=UNLV Rebels |access-date=September 29, 2019}} and defeated BYU in November 2018.{{cite web|url=https://unlvrebels.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=1362 |title=2018–19 Men's Basketball Schedule |publisher=UNLV Rebels |access-date=September 29, 2019}}

The Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA have played several games at T-Mobile Arena since 2023. The team drew 17,406 spectators to their first game at T-Mobile Arena, played on September 10, 2023, against the Phoenix Mercury, and also hosted a WNBA Playoffs game at the arena three days later. The Aces' primary home at Michelob Ultra Arena was unavailable due to a scheduling conflict.{{cite news |last=Yamashita |first=Andy |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Aces enjoy experience of playing at T-Mobile Arena |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/aces-enjoy-experience-of-playing-at-t-mobile-arena-2903589/ |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |accessdate=June 14, 2024}} Two 2024 regular season games were played at T-Mobile Arena{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Mark |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Las Vegas Aces sell out a WNBA-record 15 of 20 home games |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/may/17/las-vegas-aces-sell-out-a-wnba-record-15-of-20-hom/ |work=Las Vegas Sun |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=June 14, 2024}} and four 2025 regular season games will be played at T-Mobile Arena.

Notable events

In addition to Golden Knights games and UFC events, a number of major sporting events have been held at the arena, including boxing matches such as Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin and Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor. By virtue of the Golden Knights winning the 2017–18 Western Conference finals, it also played host to three games of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals, between the Golden Knights and the Washington Capitals, including the cup-clinching fifth game which awarded the Capitals their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

The arena hosted three games of the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals between the Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers, culminating in a 9-3 Game 5 win for the Golden Knights on June 13, 2023.

The arena has hosted nationally televised entertainment events such as the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the Latin Grammy Awards, and the Miss USA beauty pageant. It is also a stop on many national concert tours, and hosts Strait to Vegas, a concert residency by George Strait.

WWE hosted the first professional wrestling event at the arena in June 2016, with its Money in the Bank pay-per-view.{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=James|title=6/19 WWE MITB PPV Results – Caldwell's Complete Live Report|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/06/19/619-wwe-mitb-ppv-results-caldwells-ongoing-live-report/|date=June 19, 2016|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621185909/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/06/19/619-wwe-mitb-ppv-results-caldwells-ongoing-live-report/|archive-date=June 21, 2016|url-status=live}} All Elite Wrestling (AEW) made its debut at the arena with Double or Nothing in 2022, which was the promotion's first event to exceed $1 million in gate revenue.{{cite web|last=Currier|first=Joseph|title=AEW announces its first-ever $1 million gate |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-its-first-ever-1-million-gate|access-date=September 4, 2022|website=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|date=March 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305035910/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-its-first-ever-1-million-gate|archive-date=March 5, 2022|url-status=live}} The Arena will host supporting events for WWE WrestleMania 41, namely WWE Friday Night SmackDown on April 18, 2025, WWE Stand & Deliver on April 19, 2025, and WWE Monday Night RAW on April 21, 2025.{{cite web|author=WWE.com Staff|title=WWE unveils schedule of major events for WrestleMania 41 week in Las Vegas|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/article/wwe-unveils-wrestlemania-41-week-in-las-vegas|access-date=March 8, 2025|work=WWE|date=January 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250131194057/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/article/wwe-unveils-wrestlemania-41-week-in-las-vegas|archive-date=January 31, 2025|url-status=live}}

The semifinals and final game of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament and 2024 NBA Cup were held at T-Mobile Arena.{{Cite web |title=Emirates NBA Cup: Key dates & schedule |url=https://www.nba.com/news/emirates-nba-cup-key-dates-schedule|website=NBA.com|date=August 13, 2024 |language=en}}

References

{{Reflist}}38. Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia https://www.cbssports.com/boxing/news/gervonta-davis-vs-ryan-garcia-fight-pay-per-view-numbers-live-gate-exceed-expectations-in-las-vegas/