Dana White Confirms Role in Las Vegas NBA Expansion Bid

Dana White confirmed Tuesday that he remains part of a prospective ownership group pursuing an NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas.

The UFC CEO was asked for an update on the effort during the post-fight press conference for Dana White's Contender Series, and his answer left no ambiguity. Asked directly whether he's still tied to the ownership push, White said simply, "Yes."

What's the Status of the Las Vegas NBA Bid?

The league is currently reviewing finalist bids for a potential Las Vegas franchise, with three ownership groups in contention. One is led by Nancy Walton Laurie and Bill Laurie, another by Steve Apostolopoulos and Marc Lasry, and a third by Bill Foley and Jerry Colangelo. The bids reportedly value the franchise and accompanying arena proposals at between $12 billion and $13 billion. White has previously acknowledged being approached about joining an ownership group connected to the expansion push, and Tuesday's comment confirms that involvement hasn't lapsed even as the league moves into a more advanced stage of the process.

White's basketball ties run deeper than a business interest. He's attended numerous NBA games and is known to root for the Boston Celtics, and he's close with Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. None of that guarantees which group he's aligned with or in what capacity, but it frames why an NBA expansion team, rather than some other sports venture, is the one pulling him outside the UFC.

Why This Matters Beyond the Octagon

White running a UFC press conference and fielding NBA ownership questions in the same breath says something about where his ambitions sit right now. The UFC boss has spent years building relationships across combat sports, television and now major pro sports ownership circles, and Las Vegas landing an NBA team would plant a franchise in the same city where UFC stages so many of its biggest cards. There's no word yet on which of the three finalist groups White is tied to, and nothing here changes anything about upcoming UFC fight cards or matchmaking. This is a business story about the man running the promotion, not a fight-week development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dana White trying to buy an NBA team in Las Vegas?

Dana White confirmed he remains involved with a prospective ownership group pursuing an NBA expansion franchise in Las Vegas, though it's not confirmed which of the three finalist bidding groups he's tied to.

Who are the finalists for the Las Vegas NBA expansion franchise?

The three finalist ownership groups are led by Nancy Walton Laurie and Bill Laurie, Steve Apostolopoulos and Marc Lasry, and Bill Foley and Jerry Colangelo, with bids reportedly valuing the franchise and arena at $12 billion to $13 billion.

Does Dana White's NBA involvement affect his role running the UFC?

No, White made the comments during a UFC Contender Series press conference and continues to run UFC as CEO; the NBA ownership talk is a separate business pursuit.