Video game, baseball competitions ahead for Las Vegas Valley

Two major video game competitions will be coming to Las Vegas in 2028 after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors on Tuesday approved a $2 million sponsorship for Counter-Strike Major 2028.

The action means Counter-Strike Major— a competition that provides more than $1.2 million in prize money, including $500,000 to the winning team — will have two events in Las Vegas in 2028, one in the summer at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and the big event on the weekend between Thanksgiving and the first performance of the National Finals Rodeo.

According to the LVCVA, Counter-Strike is a team-based video game in which players compete in simulated missions, using strategy and communication to defeat opponents. Counter-Strike Major is a premier, multiday international global esports event that features the world’s top teams and is the largest and most established esports title.

The most recent Counter-Strike Major event held in the United States, in Austin, Texas, sold more than 45,000 tickets with 80 percent of ticketholders traveling to the event from out of state. LVCVA officials hope to more than double ticket sales with the appeal Las Vegas holds for participants and fans. Game contractor BLAST ApS also organizes summer esports events that bring professional teams together for in-person competitions.

The average age of players is 27, LVCVA Chief Sports Officer Janis Burke said.

“This is the sweet spot for visitors we were targeting to bring to Las Vegas, men 27 to 45 years old,” she said.

Burke admitted the average person doesn’t get the appeal of watching video game competitions, but that the core demographic of the participants and spectators typifies the visitor Las Vegas is trying to attract.

“What’s particularly attractive about this opportunity is the timing,” Burke said. “The Counter-Strike Major will take place between Thanksgiving and National Finals Rodeo, a typically low-demand period within our destination. And the second event will be selected specifically to drive visitation over a low-demand summer weekend in 2028.”

Next year’s BLAST Counter-Strike Major is in Singapore.

Baseball ahead

Board members also approved a more traditional sports sponsorship agreement — for baseball — for the New Balance Future Stars Series next summer.

Board members unanimously approved a $300,000 sponsorship with New Balance for its player development and scouting program.

The program is expected to generate 30,000 room nights from 200 teams, including 3,000 players, 500 coaches, and 6,000 attendees and family members.

Games and scouting drills will occur between June 15 and July 15.

Burke said the series will provide amateur athletes with opportunities to showcase their skills before, and be evaluated by, college coaches and professional scouts. The tournaments will bring four consecutive weeks of high school and college baseball tournaments and scouting combines to Las Vegas and enable the city to showcase its baseball municipal fields, high schools, and college and similar professional facilities throughout the valley.

“And with local teams expected to participate, our young athletes will have the opportunity to compete in front of a staged scouting audience while showcasing our local producing facilities,” she said.

In another action, the board awarded a $5 million contract with a $495,583 contingency with Las Vegas-based Taylor International Corp. for the construction of a warehouse and freight elevator installation at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall.

Goynes-Brown lauded

The board also paid tribute to board member Pamela Goynes-Brown, mayor of the city of North Las Vegas, as she nears the end of her term in office.

Goynes-Brown is one of the board’s longest serving members, but will be replaced with a new North Las Vegas representative because she was term-limited and could not run for re-election this year.

The North Las Vegas City Council hasn’t determined who will serve on the LVCVA board.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at [email protected] or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.