MGM Resorts New Official Partner of the College Basketball Crown

Another feather in the cap for the parent company of one of our best sports betting sites.

MGM Resorts International, parent company of BetMGM, has become an Official Partner of the College Basketball Crown. The new post-season tournament showcases the best teams from top NCAA conferences, such as the Big 10, Big 12, and Big East.

Las Vegas will be home to the tournament, hosted by FOX Sports in partnership with AEG Global Partnerships, March 31-April 6. Games will be played at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena.

“With student-athletes competing at MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena, it is a natural fit for our teams to stay at the stunning MGM Resorts properties,” FOX Sports EVP and College Basketball Crown Board Member Jordan Bazant said. “The College Basketball Crown will provide student-athletes with an elite on-site experience, while showcasing top-tier college hoops to millions.”

Under this arrangement, MGM Resorts will host the competing teams at several of its Las Vegas resorts. Aria Resort & Casino, Park MGM, and Vdara Hotel & Spa are among these. The arrangement will have the student-athletes and team staff housed in top-of-the-line resorts in accordance with the tournament’s goal of providing a higher level of experience to all attending.

In addition to hosting the teams, MGM Resorts will receive significant promotional exposure during the tournament. Signage during the tournament, digital content placement, and other marketing features will enhance the company. It could lead to more customers checking out BetMGM promo codes. Furthermore, FOX Sports will provide national media coverage of the College Basketball Crown.

To further enhance fans' experiences, MGM Resorts has also partnered with Vivid Seats, a ticket resale and exchange company, to provide special packages for watching the tournament. The packages allow basketball fans to book hotel stays at MGM Resorts and tickets to tournament games.

Boost to Las Vegas

The College Basketball Crown is an addition to Las Vegas' status as a premier sporting event destination in the Nevada sports betting market. The city has already hosted numerous top-level events from various leagues, such as the NFL, NHL, and Formula 1, and the inclusion of a postseason college basketball tournament cemented its status as a leading destination for sporting entertainment.

MGM Resorts has led this transition, repeatedly partnering with sports teams to host elite events in its facilities.

The casino operator's participation in the College Basketball Crown is one of its successful business ventures. On Feb. 12, MGM Resorts published its fourth-quarter 2024 and full fiscal year financial results, reporting $17.2 billion in net revenue. The company's continued investment in sports sponsorships is part of its overall strategy of leveraging entertainment and hospitality to drive business growth.

Besides MGM Resorts, Circa Resort & Casino has also been named a Founding Partner of the College Basketball Crown. Circa will also serve as the official host hotel for the tournament, hosting referees and officials for the event. At the beginning of January, it announced that its football contests on its online sportsbook Circa Sports, had given out payouts worth $20.2 million to participants on Circa Survivor and Circa Million VI.