The Aces and why the games are worth your time
The Las Vegas Aces moved to the city in 2018 and became the WNBA's dominant franchise, winning back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 and building one of the most star-heavy rosters in the league. The games are fast, the arena is small enough that every seat sees the floor and the in-game production leans fully into the Las Vegas showmanship: a DJ, dancers and a crowd that turns up in team gear.
The WNBA season runs from roughly May through September, with playoffs in September and October. That is peak heat and low season on the Strip, which means an Aces game is one of the few big-league sports events in Las Vegas you can pair with a cheap hotel room. Check the team's official site for this season's home schedule.
Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay
The team plays at Michelob ULTRA Arena, the 12,000-seat arena inside the Mandalay Bay convention complex on the south Strip. It was built for boxing and concerts, so the bowl is steep and intimate: even the top rows feel close, and the lower sections are practically courtside compared with an NBA arena. The arena is reached through the casino and the convention corridor; allow ten minutes from the hotel lobby to your seat.
Because it is inside a resort, you get all of Mandalay Bay's restaurants, bars and the Shark Reef aquarium before or after the game, and the pool complex is a few steps away for a pregame afternoon. See our guides to Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur and the Shark Reef.
Tickets and what they cost
Aces tickets are the best value in Las Vegas pro sports. As of 2026, upper-level seats for regular-season games typically start in the tens of dollars and lower-level seats run from around $50 to a few hundred depending on the opponent; courtside is a different market entirely. Games against Indiana, New York and other headline teams, plus any playoff game, sell out and resale prices climb quickly.
- Official: the team sells through its site and the arena's ticketing partner; single games go on sale before the season with releases through the summer.
- Resale: ordinary weeknight games often fall below face value on the day; marquee games do not.
- Seating tip: the arena is so compact that the first rows of the upper level at center court are superb. Sections behind the baskets are cheapest and still good.
Our ticket-buying guide explains how to avoid fake listings.
Getting to the arena
Mandalay Bay is the southern end of the Strip, and the free Mandalay Bay tram from Excalibur and Luxor runs right into the resort, which makes the arena easy to reach without a car from anywhere on the south Strip. From MGM Grand or New York-New York, take the tram from Excalibur; from the center Strip, a rideshare is the sensible option and drops you at the Mandalay Bay porte cochere.
If you drive, Mandalay Bay's garage charges the standard MGM Resorts parking fee as of 2026 and rarely fills for a WNBA game. Rideshare after the game is painless compared with a Raiders or arena concert night; the crowd is a fraction of the size. Details in our transportation hub.
Families and first-timers
Aces games are the most family-friendly ticket in Las Vegas pro sports. The arena is smoke-free, the crowd is mixed and enthusiastic rather than rowdy, the games last about two hours and tip-off is often 7pm with weekend afternoon games during the season. Concessions are standard arena fare and the walk through Mandalay Bay is short enough that young kids manage it.
The team runs promotional nights with giveaways and postgame events; check the schedule. Combine a game with the Shark Reef, a pool afternoon at Mandalay Bay Beach or an early dinner and you have a full south-Strip family day. Our Las Vegas with kids guide has more.
Where to eat and drink around the game
Mandalay Bay itself has more than enough: Libertine Social for an upscale bar dinner, Border Grill for Mexican, Citizens Kitchen for casual and the Foundation Room high above the Strip for a drink with a view afterward. The Mandalay Bay sportsbook is a good pregame stop and shows the other games of the night. Luxor, one tram stop away, is cheaper and quicker.
Summer heat means you will want to stay indoors, and the resort is built for that; you can arrive at 4pm, eat, watch the game and finish with a drink without stepping outside. See our rooftop and view restaurants and cheap eats guides.
Tips and things to know
- Summer hotel rates are low; a Sunday-to-Thursday stay around a game can be a genuine bargain on the south Strip. See how to get a hotel deal.
- Playoff games in September and October are a different market: buy the moment they go on sale.
- Mobile tickets only; the arena is cashless.
- Bag rules are the usual small-bag standard; check the arena site before you go.
- Arrive 30 minutes early on giveaway nights, which run out.
- Aces games are a good rest-day activity in a packed itinerary; they end early enough for a show afterward.
