Vici Properties Confirms Caesars Partnership on Potential Las Vegas NBA Arena

John Payne, president and COO of Vici Properties, has publicly confirmed the real estate investment trust's work with Caesars Entertainment on a possible NBA arena in Las Vegas. Speaking on a Q2 earnings call, Payne said the two companies are drawing up plans for a venue on 50 acres of land they jointly control behind Paris, Horseshoe and Planet Hollywood, with Sean McBurney, Caesars' CCO and regional president for Las Vegas, leading the effort on the operator's side.

The proposed site is not the only contender for an NBA franchise. It faces competition from the Las Vegas Diamond Arena project and a possible bid from Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, who currently manages T-Mobile Arena. Caesars has not yet issued a public statement on the development. The NBA voted in March to formally explore expansion in Las Vegas or Seattle, and ownership bids are expected to exceed $7-8bn.

Payne framed the arena project as another boost for Las Vegas, saying, "Every new demand driver makes Las Vegas that much harder to bet against." He also noted that an NBA franchise could extend the city's growth trajectory.

The comments came alongside Vici's Q2 and first-half 2026 results, released on July 29. Net revenue and adjusted EBITDA rose in both periods, but net income decreased 39.1% to $526.5m. Operating expenses climbed from $93.1m in Q2 2025 to $315.6m in Q2 2026.