LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Interim President Chris Heavey hosted a roundtable with representatives from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Las Vegas Raiders, the Las Vegas Athletics, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix to discuss the emerging global hub of sports tourism in Las Vegas. They highlighted the importance of major sporting events for Nevada’s economy and ways to ensure Las Vegas workers are trained for this industry. Senator Rosen also highlighted UNLV’s new Sports Tourism Hospitality Degree Program, which aims to address the growing needs of the sports industry and its workforce.
“From boxing and UFC to football and baseball to race car driving, Las Vegas is a world-class sports destination. We’re proud to be the home to so many incredible teams, and the destination for major sporting events – all of which contributes to our tourism economy and local jobs,” said Senator Rosen. “Today’s discussion brought together a wide array of leaders to discuss the importance of the sports industry in Las Vegas and how we can all work together to ensure that we can meet all the needs of this sector.”
“Las Vegas has become a global destination for sports and entertainment, and UNLV is uniquely positioned to support the region’s growing sport workforce and innovation needs while simultaneously and creatively seeking new opportunities and partnerships,” said Chris Heavey, Interim President of UNLV. “Only at UNLV can students intern for the Super Bowl, report on the NBA Summer League, engage in research and service projects with the UFC and NFL, NHL, MLB and WNBA franchises, and take a college class on next-level hospitality aligned with the Vegas Grand Prix. That’s just the beginning, and UNLV is thrilled to play a key role in our region’s rise as a sports economy powerhouse.”
“We are honored that Senator Rosen asked TKO to participate in today’s important discussion. UFC, WWE, PBR and Zuffa Boxing have a successful track record of driving visitation, supporting jobs, and giving back to the Las Vegas community. UFC is also proud to call Las Vegas home for more than 25 years, and we look forward to continuing to work with partners across Nevada to build an even stronger future for live sports and entertainment tourism,” said Akosa Akpom – Vice President, Analytics & Insights, TKO.
Senator Rosen has been a champion for Nevada’s tourism industry, particularly sporting events. In July, Senator Rosen introduced the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which aims to revive the sport of boxing and guarantee health and financial protections for fighters. In June, Senator Rosen’s bipartisan American Decade of Sports Act, which would boost American sports diplomacy and leverage large sporting events hosted in the U.S. to boost tourism, advanced out of committee. Last year, she also helped introduce bipartisan legislation to enhance security at outdoor sporting events.
###
