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 Interior of venue duringEvo 2017 | |
  Michelob Ultra Arena Location within Nevada Show map of Nevada Michelob Ultra Arena Location within the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Former names | Mandalay Bay Events Center (1999–2021) |
|---|---|
| Address | 3950 SouthLas Vegas Boulevard |
| Location | Paradise,Nevada, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 36°5′26.44″N115°10′44.33″W / 36.0906778°N 115.1789806°W /36.0906778; -115.1789806 |
| Owner | MGM Resorts International |
| Type | Arena |
| Capacity | 12,000 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1998 |
| Opened | April 10, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-04-10) |
| Tenants | |
| Las Vegas Aces (WNBA) (2018–present) NBA G League Ignite (NBAGL) (2021–2022) Las Vegas Desert Dogs (NLL) (2022–2024) | |
| Website | |
| Venue Website | |
TheMichelob Ultra Arena, formerly theMandalay Bay Events Center, is a 12,000-seat multi-purpose indoorarena at theMandalay Bay Resort and Casino, located on theLas Vegas Strip inParadise, Nevada.[1] It is owned and operated byMGM Resorts International, and was opened on April 10, 1999. MGM and brewing companyAnheuser-Busch entered a naming-rights agreement in 2021, naming the arena after the company'sMichelob Ultra beer.[2]
It is the home arena for theLas Vegas Aces of theWomen's National Basketball Association and was previously home to theLas Vegas Desert Dogs of theNational Lacrosse League. The arena also hosts a variety of music, sports, and entertainment events.
The facility opened as the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 10, 1999, with a performance by opera singerLuciano Pavarotti,[3] appearing in his first Las Vegas concert since 1985.[3][4] The facility opened a month after theMandalay Bay resort, and included a 30,218 sq ft (2,807.3 m2) floor.[5] The venue was originally planned to include 8,000 seats, but boxing promoterBob Arum convincedMandalay Resort Group to increase this to 12,000.[6] The Mandalay Bay Events Center gave Las Vegas its third musical arena, joining theThomas & Mack Center and theMGM Grand Garden Arena.[7]
MGM Mirage acquired Mandalay Resort Group and the venue in 2005, and was later renamed MGM Resorts International. Around 2014, MGM considered turning the facility into a theater, before deciding to build thePark Theater (now known as "Dolby Live") instead.[8] In February 2021, the venue was renamed Michelob Ultra Arena, through a partnership with brewing companyAnheuser-Busch. It is named after the company'sMichelob Ultra beer.[9][10]
The arena hostsboxing matches, including the high-profileAmir Khan vs. Zab JudahLight welterweighttitle unification, match on July 23, 2011.
As of July 2018, the Mandalay Bay Events Center has held 31Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, starting withUFC 33, and most recently,UFC Fight Night 88. It held the largest UFC weigh-in show in history in conjunction with International Fight Week 2012 ahead ofUFC 148 welcoming 10,000 fans.[11] UFC cards in Vegas have since moved toT-Mobile Arena as part of a comprehensive marketing and tenancy agreement.
The 999th episode ofWWE Raw was held at the arena on July 16, 2012, the first time the WWE performed at Mandalay Bay.
The Las Vegas Aces are the primary long-term tenant of the arena. The NBA and WNBA officially announced on October 17, 2017, that theSan Antonio Stars would relocate from San Antonio, Texas, and would be playing at the Mandalay Bay Events Center starting in the 2018 season as the Las Vegas Aces. They played their first home game on May 27, 2018.[12] The arena has hosted the Aces in theWNBA Finals twice, in2022 and2023. The Aces have four banners hanging from the rafters at the arena: one for the retirement ofBecky Hammon's number 25, two for their WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, and one for their2022Commissioner's Cup championship.
The arena has hosted theWNBA All-Star Game and related All-Star events three times:2019,2021, and2023.
The firstNational Basketball Association game on theLas Vegas Strip since 1981 was at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on October 6, 2012, a preseason contest between theDenver Nuggets and theLos Angeles Clippers. The teams returned for preseason games in 2013 and 2014.[13][14]
During the2021–22 NBA G League season, the Michelob Ultra Arena would serve as one of the temporary home arenas for theCapitanes de la Ciudad de México during their inaugural season at theNBA G League despite also being temporarily stationed atFort Worth, Texas at the time due to the long-term effects of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[15][16] Not only that, but it would also serve as the neutral hosting site for the Showcase Cup Tournament for the G League (which would continue its existence following the 2021–22 season), as well as the home arena for theNBA G League Ignite during that entire season for them, including a couple of exhibition games played against the Capitanes.[17]
In 2021, Michelob Ultra Arena hosted a training camp forUSA Basketball prior to their departure for the2020 Summer Olympics inTokyo,Japan.
The arena hosted the NCAA Men's basketball postseason tournamentVegas 16 in its only season, 2016. In 2021, the arena hosted theUNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball for a game againstSeattle Redhawks while theNational Finals Rodeo occupied UNLV's home arena, theThomas & Mack Center. Michelob Ultra Arena also played hosted to thePac-12 Conference women's basketball tournament from 2021 to 2023.
On August 29, 2017, theNational Lacrosse League (NLL) announced that Las Vegas had been awarded an NLL franchise to begin playing in December 2022 for the2022–2023 season. The team became known as theLas Vegas Desert Dogs.[18] The team moved to the nearbyLee's Family Forum inHenderson starting with the 2024–25 season.[19]
The2016 Spring North American League of Legends Championship Series Finals were hosted at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 16 and 17, 2016.
From2016 to2023, theEvolution Championship Series fighting game tournament has held its final day of competition at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Rock bandJourney performed at the arena in December 2000 which was filmed for the Journey 2001 DVD.
VH1 held the first twoRock Honors ceremonies in this facility in 2006 and 2007.
It was the host ofYanni'sYanni Live! The Concert Event, in 2006.
The arena hostedCrüe Fest on August 1, 2008.
It played host to311's biennial 3-11 Day concert on March 11, 2010. The band played four sets with 60 songs total.
The arena hosted the 2010 revival of theLilith Fair on July 9.
On August 23, 2010, the arena served as the venue forMiss Universe 2010 where at the conclusion of the eventXimena Navarrete ofMexico was crowned as the winner.
January 28, 2011, Ozzy Osbourne performed as part of his tour for his new albumLet Me Hear You Scream.
The cast ofGlee were there on the first stop on theirGlee Live! In Concert! tour on May 21, 2011.
On May 14, 2017, the arena hostedMiss USA 2017 pageant.[20]
The25thBillboard Latin Music Awards was held in the Events Center on April 26, 2018.[21]
British heavy metal bandIron Maiden performed for theirThe Future Past World Tour on October 5, 2024.[22]
The arena has hosted theLatin Grammy Awards seven times. The Latin Grammys were held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in2007 and from2009 to2013. The arena hosted the Latin Grammy Awards for a seventh time in2022.[23]
Footage of a boxing match betweenOscar De La Hoya andOba Carr, taking place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, was used in the 1999 filmPlay It to the Bone.[24] The final boxing match in the 2006 filmRocky Balboa was also filmed at the venue.[10][25][26]
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Home of the Las Vegas Aces 2018–present | Succeeded by Current Arena |
| Preceded by First Arena | Home of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Fed Cup Final Four venue 2000 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ultimate Fighting Championship venue UFC 33 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Miss Universe Venue 2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Miss USA Venue 2017 | Succeeded by |
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