Las Vegas could be getting closer to an NBA team, and Bill Hornbuckle said Wednesday that T-Mobile Arena is likely to play some role if the league awards the city an expansion franchise. Hornbuckle made the comments during MGM Resorts International’s first-quarter earnings call, saying the arena is already part of the discussion around how a team might begin play in Southern Nevada.
“We have had huge interest and obviously whether T-Mobile becomes, and Las Vegas becomes the ultimate site or not, time will tell,” Hornbuckle said. He added that the league’s Board of Governors would have the final say next year, but said MGM is encouraged by the level of attention. “How could we not be? We’ve all seen the success in what it means to Las Vegas, where these sports teams come. T-Mobile is part of that conversation, whether it’s short-term or long-term. All roads lead to it for now, because the league has expressed interest to host a team as early as 2028,” he said.
The comments came as MGM said it is talking with multiple groups about a possible NBA expansion team in Southern Nevada. Hornbuckle said he has signed three nondisclosure agreements tied to those talks. One interested ownership group includes Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, who already holds majority ownership of the Knights and minority ownership in T-Mobile Arena along with AEG and MGM Resorts. A second group, the MAGI, is led by NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson and wants to build a new arena for a potential team.
The NBA has been laying its own groundwork. In late March, Commissioner Adam Silver said the league’s owners voted to officially explore relocation in Las Vegas and Seattle. Silver also said it was too soon to know whether T-Mobile would be a suitable home for an expansion franchise, saying the league would need to better understand where the building stands, whether any changes are planned and what an ownership group thinks is the best place to play in Las Vegas.
That leaves two paths on the table: a new arena or a temporary move into one already standing. If Las Vegas is awarded a team and the league wants it to begin play in 2028, using T-Mobile Arena for a time would make sense, especially if a new building cannot be finished before the 2028-29 season. Hornbuckle said MGM is beginning to position the arena for bidders with AEG and Foley. “We’re open to all commerce, and there has been extensive interest in Las Vegas,” he said.
The next major step is the NBA Board of Governors’ decision, expected sometime next year. For now, the city’s biggest arena is no longer just a backdrop to the expansion conversation. It is part of the plan, whether that plan lasts a season or becomes something more permanent.