UFC president and CEO Dana White said don’t count him out of a potential Las Vegas NBA ownership group.
White, speaking with media after a tour of the UFC’s recently upgraded Meta Apex facility, said the timing of the question on his NBA aspirations was strange because he was contacted earlier Monday about joining an ownership group.
“It’s weird you just asked me that question,” White said. “(A group) literally reached out to me this morning about it. So, I wouldn’t say no, but I’m not saying yes.”
Although noncommittal, the fact that he’s being contacted in about by a potential expansion group shows there is some level of interest in bringing him aboard.
White has helped grow the UFC from a once frowned upon promotion to one of the largest sports leagues in the world, netting a nearly $8 billion broadcast deal with Paramount last August. White’s relationships with Nevada’s casino executives, sports entities and elected officials would be a plus for any group vying for an NBA expansion team.
The NBA began officially exploring expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle in March, with league commissioner Adam Silver saying last month that he expects the expansion process to conclude by the end of the year.
There are several groups who have reported interest in landing an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas that White could team up with. Those include a group led by Golden Knights owner Bill Foley whose team shares T-Mobile Arena with the UFC.
The Las Vegas Jacks group also is looking to bid on an NBA Las Vegas team. That group is headed by former NBA owner Jerry Colangelo and include other members such as former NBA player and coach Vinny Del Negro, chairman and managing partner of Prime Capital Financial Scott Colangelo, media executive David Levy, American Century investments CEO Jonathan Thomas and former NBA lottery pick and current NBA analysts Jay Williams.
A pair of other groups, including one led by Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie and her husband Bill Laurie and another featuring former Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger and venture capital billionaire Joshua Kushner also are reportedly interested in bidding for a Las Vegas NBA team.
The MAGI, led by former NBA great turned businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson, also expressed their intent on pursuing a Las Vegas expansion team earlier this year.
Aside from the multiple ownership groups, there have been nearly a dozen Las Vegas NBA-ready arena projects floated in some fashion in recent years.
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.
