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Formula One is reshaping not only the surface of the Las Vegas Strip for its inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, running from November 16-18, but also the world beneath that surface. Shortly after miles of flood channels were constructed beneath Las Vegas in the 1980s, a population of unhoused people discovered that they provide daytime shelter from the unrelentingly hot sun, a better measure of security than sleeping on the streets, and a break from the police officers who clear the Strip of unhoused people at night. (Image: thetravel.com) A series of interconnected concrete flood channels ushers stormwater beneath the Las Vegas Strip to Lake Mead from its origin in …

Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke will start for the Atlanta Falcons this week after they benched starter Desmond Ridder. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke, seen here dropping back for a pass against the Tennessee Titans, earned a promotion from backup to starter in Week 9. (Image: Getty) The Falcons (4-4) are tied for first place in the NFC South with the New Orleans Saints. Head coach Arthur Smith made the command decision to switch quarterbacks against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9. The Vikings will also have a new starting quarterback this week. Kirk Cousins sustained a season-ending torn Achilles on Sunday, and backup Jaren Hall will start against the Falcons. …

Penn Entertainment (NASDAQ: PENN) reported third-quarter results earlier Thursday. The point of emphasis for analysts and investors was commentary from the company regarding the widely anticipated debut of ESPN Bet. The ESPN Bet logo, above. Penn Entertainment said the new sportsbook will debut on November 14. (Image: ESPN Bet) The Pennsylvania-based regional casino operator said ESPN Bet, its new online sportsbook brand, will “simultaneously launch” across 17 states on November 14. That means the mobile application will be available to bettors in those jurisdictions in advance of Thanksgiving football games. That’s important timing, because Thanksgiving Week is traditionally “Rivalry Week” in college football, and this year, Monday Night Football features …

Several months of drama and speculation have ended, as the Los Angeles Clippers have acquired shooting guard James Harden in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia 76ers will part ways with James Harden after they sent him to the Los Angeles Clippers in a trade. (Image: AP) In addition to Harden, the Clippers will add small forward P.J. Tucker and power forward Filip Petrusev to the deal. The 76ers will get two first-round picks (2026 protected and 2028 unprotected), two second-round picks (2024 and 2029), and a 2029 pick swap in the Harden trade. The deal also entails the Clippers sending four role players to the 76ers, including …

Demolition for the Tropicana Las Vegas casino hotel could happen as soon as late 2024 if the Oakland Athletics (A’s) proceed with their move to Sin City. Tropicana Las Vegas. The venue could be demolished in late 2024 to make way for a baseball stadium. (Image: Getty Images) That timeline coincides with expiration of the team’s lease on its current ballpark in Oakland. Earlier this week, Ross Edwards, senior vice president of operations at Mortenson McCarthy, told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority that construction on a new Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium in Las Vegas would need to commence by April 2025 at the latest to have the venue ready …

Sphere Entertainment, the operator of the Sphere entertainment venue on the Las Vegas Strip, announced it is the official jersey patch partner of the New York Knicks. The Sphere, illuminated in Las Vegas on July 4, 2023. Sphere Entertainment will be the official jersey partner of the New York Knicks. (Image: YouTube) The Sphere logo will appear on all Knicks game jerseys, home and away. Sphere imagery will also be seen on Knicks practice jerseys, Knicks warm-up shirts, and on apparel sold at Madison Square Garden, the team’s home venue, and at Shop.MSG.com. Financial terms of the patch deal weren’t disclosed. This pairing brings together two globally-recognized brands — a …

Formula 1 fans who paid dearly for tickets to see the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix from the HG2 grandstand received some unwanted news on Friday through the F1 Las Vegas app. Due to an unforeseen and unexplained “sightline issue,” according to a message from the Las Vegas Grand Prix Service Team, their grandstand won’t be built. A rendering of the West Harmon viewing zone for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix race shows the H2 bookended by two larger grandstands. (Image: F1) Instead of refunds, spectators were promised upgrades to “an improved ticketing option that includes assigned seating with unobstructed views and access to the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere …

The top-seeded Las Vegas Aces won their second consecutive WNBA championship Wednesday. They rallied to edge out the No. 2 New York Liberty, 70-69, in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals at New York’s Barclay’s Center. Taking the series 3-1, the Aces became the first WNBA team to repeat as champions since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002. The Las Vegas Aces celebrate their historic second consecutive WNBA championship on Wednesday in New York. (Image: USA Today Sports) The victory was even more impressive considering the Aces were down star guard Chelsea Gray and center Kiah Stokes, who combined to average 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.9 assists for the …

The debut of ESPN Bet, expected in November, marks Walt Disney’s (NYSE: DIS) initial foray into the consumer-facing side of the sports wagering industry — something a high-ranking executive and a major investor previously warned the company about. Disney CEO Bob Iger (left). An executive and a major investor reportedly warned the company about getting involved in sports betting. (Image: Getty Images) In a wide-ranging article published today by the Wall Street Journal, Robbie Whelan, Katherine Sayre, and Jessica Toonkel report that during Bob Iger’s first stint as chief executive officer, Disney was reluctant to embracing sports wagering for fear that it would threaten family-friending branding. That view changed when …

DraftKings has updated their 2023 NFL Coach of the Year odds, and Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions) is a slight betting favorite at +300 odds over Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins) at +400, and Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers) at +500. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell prowling the sidelines of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. (Image: Getty) Shanahan and the 49ers (5-0) are one of two undefeated teams in the NFL. The 49ers are currently the consensus favorite to win Super Bowl LVIII at +350 odds. Campbell and the Lions (4-1) have the second-best record in the NFC, and he’s on a mission to lead them to their first …