Derek Stevens sat with the owner of Las Vegas’ incoming Major League Baseball franchise Saturday, pulling for the city’s NHL team in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
This concept would have been preposterous when Stevens invested in the Las Vegas 51s minor league team 18 years ago. But it is his — and the city’s — reality today.
The co-owner of Circa, the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate took in the Golden Knights-Hurricanes game with Athletics owner John Fisher. The confluence of major league sports was bolstered by the Aces playing the Golden State Valkyries just to the south at Michelob Ultra Arena.
In a phone chat a few hours before the game, I asked Stevens if he and Fisher are talking of a formal partnership. Maybe a promotional branding deal, similar to the Circa logo featured on Golden Knights uniforms?
Without being specific, Stevens said something’s up.
“We’re working on a few things, but we’re not ready to announce it yet,” Stevens said. “Maybe sometime in the next couple months.”
Baseball is the busiest regular-season sport, 81 home dates on the corner of Tropicana and the Strip. Stevens wants to tap into that energy.
“What John’s bringing to Vegas is big time, because of the quantity of events, and it’s during a slower time for Vegas, which is the summer,” Stevens said. “If you think about it, we’re going to have 81 events that are going to be terrific for our economy and tourism. It will bring jobs to the hotels, the restaurants, in all hospitality.”
The dam broke for major league sports in Las Vegas when the ban on sports gambling was lifted across the country eight years ago. But Stevens, who is from Detroit, felt the center of gravity shift to our city decades before the law changed.
“I felt Las Vegas would be a major league city a long time ago, back in ’08, 10 years before the Golden Knights started in town,” Stevens said. “I felt it was a major league city even much earlier than that, actually, in the ’80s, because the city had shown it could stage big events. We had glimpses of it when it was a premier destination for big-time boxing, and it just grew as the premier destination for UFC, and then the major leagues with the NHL.”
Stevens grew up a fan of all Detroit teams — he once lived near the iconic Joe Louis Arena, home of the Red Wings (he was known to have tickets for resale, in his 20s). He understands the dynamic of fan behavior.
“Sports and Vegas are the perfect match, because fans who love their teams take road trips. There’s no better place where people aspire to be than Las Vegas,” Stevens said. “So, you saw immediately with the Golden Knights, a blend of passionate locals and tourists who want to come and visit. It’s just a perfect combination.”
In developing Circa for its 2021 opening, Stevens was originally inspired by the Las Vegas Hilton Superbook for his lavish sportsbook layout. His Circa Sportsbook and Stadium Swim are the gold standard for sports viewing, wagering and entertainment.
Those spaces opened as the Golden Knights were taking off, the Aces were moving to Las Vegas and the Raiders were about to open at Allegiant Stadium.
NBA expansion into Las Vegas seems a certainty — Stevens and Fisher are seated in the very arena pushing to be the home of that team. The Athletics are scheduled to open for the 2028 season.
Las Vegas is on the cusp of filling out the quartet of NFL, NHL, Major League Baseball and the NBA.
“In less than 24 months, we will have baseball, and we should round out the top four leagues,” Stevens said. “It’s just phenomenal to see how this is impacting Las Vegas.”
T-Pain for free
Grammy Award-winning hip-hop/R&B star and frequent Vegas headliner T-Pain will headline the free show at Toshiba Plaza ahead of Game 4 at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The game is once more at 5 p.m.
As was the case for Illenium on Saturday, the concert is open to the public, no ticket is required to attend. Toshiba Plaza will open for fans attending the concert at 2 p.m.; doors to T-Mobile open at 3:45 p.m. Fans can hang in the Plaza for the watch party.
The rules: No bags or backpacks will be permitted, except for small personal bags. Check the policies for T-Mobile, which apply to the Plaza.
He’s a jet-setter
Mark Shunock flew out of Bologna at 5:44 a.m. local time Saturday. He was in his Mark Nash-announcer persona at the WWE “Smackdown” event Friday night in Italy.
Shunock and his wife, Cheryl Daro, landed at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time. The Golden Knights’ in-arena announcer walked — no, sauntered — onto The Fortress deck at T-Mobile Arena at 4:30 p.m.
“This place is going to be popping tonight!” Shunock shouted upon arrival. “Let’s go!”
Shunock showed no ill effects when shouting that Mendoza, the Raiders’ man of the moment, was cranking the siren at the top of the action. Mendoza nearly broke the prop, while Shunock almost shredded his voice and turned his face red.
There is no nuance in Shunock’s act at T-Mobile. He will sleep, later.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykatson X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.