Las Vegas is quickly becoming the entertainment capital of the world. The past five years have seen the city host an NHL Draft, an NHL All-Star Game, a Super Bowl, and the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium. That's not even mentioning the events coming into town, including Wrestlemania 41 and the College Football Championship in 2027. No matter how hard you try, you can't escape its presence. It's like Thanos getting all the Infinity Stones, only with showgirls and Wayne Newton.
Such popularity has led NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to target Sin City as the go-to host for numerous events. As mentioned, All-Star Games and NHL Drafts have received the glitz and glamour treatment from the league. However, NHL Expansion Drafts and award shows have also been given to the city. It seems T-Mobile Arena is the place to be.
Of course, this wouldn't be possible without the Vegas Golden Knights being a smash hit. The team is on track to make their seventh Stanley Cup playoff appearance this season. They also have four semifinal appearances along with two Stanley Cup Final appearances and a championship to boot. Success attracts the biggest and brightest, which is certainly the case with Las Vegas's hockey team.
Currently, there's another NHL event taking the world by storm: The 4 Nations Face-Off. The event has drawn incredible numbers by attracting fans with displays of civic pride and all-around drama. The numbers don't lie, either. This event has become appointment-viewing on the TV and streaming apps everywhere.
Thank you, Tkachuks pic.twitter.com/PTySry0s5f
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 16, 2025
Why not have the 4 Nations Face-Off at T-Mobile Arena next?
There's no doubt Las Vegas attracts tourists and sports fans across the globe. It doesn't matter if it's Canelo Alvarez coming into town for a big fight or Roman Reigns vs. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for a Wrestlemania main event. Sin City has been the place to be for sports in the past five years.
Considering the 4 Nations Face-Off has taken off in popularity, it's inevitable that the spectacle will replace the traditional All-Star Game format permanently. It brings a World Cup-esque feel to the break, where national pride takes precedence over everything else. Combine that with being a global hotspot for tourists and the marriage is perfect.
That's what makes T-Mobile Arena ideal for such an event. Given there's so much to do in Las Vegas combined with the city's growing footprint in the hockey universe, it only makes sense that the two concepts are joined together. Fans can watch superstars like Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid face each other and carry their respective flags in homage to their countries. This tournament screams "LAS VEGAS" because of these reasons.
Let's not limit ourselves to the 4 Nations Face-Off, though
Imagine going from your Las Vegas (or Henderson) home to park at New York New York Casino and Hotel. Or maybe Treasure Island if you're feeling cheap. It feels like you're going to a Vegas Golden Knights game, only you're seeing the best players from around the world. All of this is going down in February during the break.
That could be a reality with the World Cup making its glorious return in 2028. According to Gary Bettman and the NHL, the event would take teams from individual countries and pit them against one another. Of course, numerous factors float around the event, including Russia's status with the IIHF. However, it could provide another marquee event for T-Mobile Arena.
Those same reasons for the 4 Nations tournament apply here. Imagine passionate hockey fans across the globe seeing their countries vie for supremacy in a week-long (or two) tournament. All of this to see players like Eichel, McDavid, and Auston Matthews. There's no better place to host it than Las Vegas, where all the stars come out to play.