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Think of Las Vegas and you think of music, right? Elvis, Wayne Newton, Tom Jones. But where do you go when you want to see concerts by bands and artists who've hit the charts within the last twenty years?
The best place to see concerts in Vegas is without a doubt at the MGM Grand Garden arena, though the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay is a very close second.
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In fact, the House of Blues has a vociferous fan base that swears it's much better than the Grand. The House of Blues features attractions that just aren't going to make it to the Grand, at least not yet. MGM gets the big names like U2 and the Eagles, while the House of Blues gets the really interesting bands like the Dropkick Murphys. Either way, both venues have played a role in making Vegas a top destination for currently popular acts.
There's only one thing in Las Vegas that's louder than a rock concert and you really don't even have to move your head as much. Some might consider it a strange relationship to marry Vegas and Nascar, but then who ever thought Vegas and punk rock would get married? The Las Vegas 400 has quickly settled in as one of the city's top local sports events. Of course, it's not called the Las Vegas 400 anymore, but why give a certain car company free advertising when you don't have to. If watching cars go in a circle for three hours isn't your idea of fun, then you can always check out the National Finals Rodeo. This 10-day event features all those things that make rodeos what they are: roping, broncin' and clowns slipping on cowpies. Who wouldn't prefer that to Nascar? Then again, Nascar features car wrecks at 150 mph.
Oddly enough, Las Vegas has no major professional sports team. Perhaps the Saints will eventually make the move if certain congressmen have their way and New Orleans isn't rebuilt. Until then, Las Vegas is the name and hockey is the game. Whaaaattt? Las Vegas has a hockey team? Yes. But that's not the really weird part. Las Vegas has a hockey team, the Wranglers, who play in--get this--the East Coast Hockey League. They're not bad, either, making it into the playoffs in their first year in town. But let's face it, we all know that when it comes to sports in Las Vegas, there was, is and always will be just one show in town. The Running Rebels of UNLV. Sure, they haven't been a bona fide contender since they had to start playing by the same rules as their opponents, but memories of past NCAA Tournament glory keep bringing the fans back.
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