Sands CEO, Mavs owner Dumont leads review of potential Las Vegas NBA arena sites

Tue, September 15, 2026 at 1:43 PM

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 11: Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont looks on during the third quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at American Airlines Center on May 11, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Casino executive and Dallas Mavericks co-owner Patrick Dumont led a review of potential NBA arena sites in Las Vegas this week, according to Commissioner Adam Silver.

The NBA's Board of Governors met in New York, and Silver confirmed the topic of potential expansion returned to the table.

The commissioner said there are several active groups involved in Las Vegas expansion talks, but he declined to elaborate further.

"I'll say that there was a discussion led by Patrick Dumont, of course, who's a Las Vegas resident and [has] enormous operating experience there in Las Vegas, just sort of an independent objective party, led a discussion around the various sites, potential sites, in Las Vegas," Silver said.

Dumont is the CEO and chairman of Las Vegas Sands. He and his mother-in-law, Sands majority owner Miriam Adelson, bought a controlling stake in the Mavericks in 2023.

There is "real excitement" regarding potentially renovating T-Mobile Arena, Silver continued, but it would need "significant improvements" if it were to become a team's permanent home. Other groups have presented plans for a "modern entertainment palace," which he compared to Sphere Las Vegas.

"Right now, we're at the point where there will be next-round bids coming in shortly," Silver said. "Not final bids, but next-round bids coming in. And my personal view is, it's premature to start locking in a site. I think there are several different locations that would be very viable for NBA basketball in Las Vegas."

The NBA is exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle but has not committed to bringing a team to either city.

Silver said Tuesday that this week's discussions focused more on Las Vegas, which has a longer timeline because no arena is settled, versus Seattle.

"If we were opening in five weeks, we could be ready in Seattle," he said, noting that the city's Climate Pledge Arena is state-of-the-art and capable of hosting an NBA team with only some adjustments.

Aside from T-Mobile Arena, several sites around Las Vegas have been floated for a potential venue.

That includes lots across from Mandalay Bay, behind Paris and Planet Hollywood, adjacent to downtown's World Market Center, and near Starr Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Silver has said the league hopes to decide on expansion by the end of the year.