Boys, brawn & beer! 12 ways to enjoy a sporty Las Vegas weekend

Who doesn’t love a little competition? Las Vegas — known as one of the world’s greatest entertainment and dining destinations, also sparks travelers who thrive on the thrill of victory. 

Live sports venues, one-of-a-kind bars and restaurants to catch your favorite game on the big screen, and e-sports arenas for those who like to get in on the action make for a winning combination regardless of who you’re rooting for. 

The Fan District at Luxor and Mandalay Bay provides the winning combination for gatherings within a 15-minute walk of Las Vegas’s football stadium. Game day drink specials, pre-game DJs, and post-event perks like buy-one-get-one-free beers entice fans, no matter who you’re rooting for.

GayCities packed our favorite jerseys (and other gear, but that’s another story!) to check out the best of Las Vegas’s sports scenes while taking advantage of all the perks offered with MGM Rewards. Here’s what came out on top:

A pre-game you won’t want to miss

One of the US’s newest sports stadiums opened in Las Vegas in 2020, and it’s packed with perks to draw a crowd, including easy walkable access from the Las Vegas Strip. Mandalay Bay is one of the closest and offers two fantastic spots for a pre- (or post) game meet-up. 

Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar, located in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, opened in June 2023 and has quickly established itself as one of the hottest spots to rev up before kick-off or celebrate a victory. With 50 HDTVs and a 30-foot LED wall, every seat makes you feel like a VIP, and a roving Bloody Mary cart and bottomless mimosas take game day brunch to the next level. Fuel up with our favorite menu bite — a half-pound truffle burger loaded with caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and fresh truffle aioli. 

Luxor’s Public House offers another easy-to-access option. The American sports bar is an iconic pre-game gathering spot. And not to be outdone by its Mandalay Bay neighbor, its “Do It in Public Challenge Burger”  serves up a towering stack of four double cheeseburgers, loaded fries, and a milkshake — if eaten in 30 minutes it’s free, along with bragging rights and a souvenir T-shirt.

Budget-friendly best seats & bites

Want to get up close and personal with your favorite players? While we can’t offer locker room access, MGM Grand’s Tap Sports Bar provides the next best thing. With 60 HDTVs, you’ll feel like you’re standing on the sidelines, ready to wipe a brow or catch a pass. The sprawling venue is also the go-to spot to view ice hockey games through spring. During commercial breaks, check out the one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia collection, which includes a jersey signed by Magic Johnson and  UFC Lightweight champ Chuck LIddell’s gloves and shorts. 

The menu reflects our favorite comfort foods, including old-school favorites like fish and chips, loaded fries, and an Insta-worthy Bavarian pretzel, proving that sometimes size does matter.

Game on

If you possess a competitive spirit and good hand-eye coordination, Luxor’s HyperX Arena offers a 30,000-square-foot, multi-level gaming playground that will get your adrenaline going even if you have weak ankles.  

The state-of-the-art gaming and broadcast center attracts amateurs and professionals alike thanks to its 50-foot LED video wall, gaming stations, and TV-quality production studio. 

The Arena’s telescopic stadium seating offers the perfect vantage point for viewers, while VIP rooms and a luxury box suite lounge present the possibility of an even more personalized experience. Looking for a quick adrenaline rush? Pop into the Lobby for a few minutes at a console gaming station, where you can choose from dozens of games, including the queer-inclusive League of Legends and Overwatch.

For a different kind of club kid

Tap into your inner Tadd Fujikawa (the first-ever male professional golfer to come out) at Topgolf Las Vegas located at MGM Grand. Regardless of your experience, swing for the stars at this four-level complex, which includes 120 climate-controlled hitting bays. High-tech amenities include microchipped balls and HDTVs to track your progress. Savvy swingers can aim for targets, while those new to the sport can rely on color-coded irons to maximize their success rate.

Virtual courses replicate some of the world’s best fairways and greens, including Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, and Spyglass Hill. And if you want an extra set of hands, enlist the support of a Topgolf pro to help improve your swing.

Dive into the digital realm

Transport yourself to another dimension at MGM Grand’s Zero Latency, an out-of-this-world virtual reality (VR) experience. The latest platform release boasts “free room” technology — no PC backpacks or equipment is needed to explore the 2,000-square-foot arena. 

Located inside MGM Grand’s LEVEL UP gaming lounge (where you can also go old-school with arcade games, billiards, and shuffleboard), Zero Latency’s VR environments transport up to eight participants into highly-charged scenarios. Whether you’re trapped in a zombie apocalypse, battling rogue robots, or solving physics-based puzzles while hovering above an alluring planet below, Zero Latency scores big on the wow factor.

Bonus: It’s never too early to start planning swimwear season

After a season of winter workouts, plan a Las Vegas getaway that includes Luxor’s Temptation Sundays. The city’s longest-running queer pool party returns in May 2024 and promises another season of DJs, dancing, and fashion-forward swimwear. 

Ready to start planning your LGBTQ+-friendly Las Vegas getaway? MGM Rewards offers plenty of perks, from guaranteed lowest room rates and upgrades to travel and dining credits.

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