WISE Las Vegas and Global Gaming Women last week announced the inaugural “Women of Inspiration” celebration in honor of Women’s History Month at the iconic Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, March 9th from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. It will be located at Coors Light Landing delivering attendees spectacular panoramas of the field and providing stunning views of the glittering Las Vegas Strip. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased HERE.
The event celebrates inspirational women who are at the intersection of gaming and sports, and the honorees are:
- Woman in Sports: Qiava Martinez, Chief Sales Officer of the Las Vegas Raiders
- Woman in Gaming & Sports: Melanie Gross, SVP & Head of Product at Golden Hearts Games
- Woman in Gaming: Colleen Birch, Chief Operating Officer of Fontainebleau Las Vegas
- Woman to Watch: Erin Lydon, President of PokerPower
- Inspirational Woman of 2022: Nikki Fargas, President of the Las Vegas Aces
Following a catered cocktail reception, recognition of honorees will take place on a tailored stage featuring live entertainment and enhanced production, with Emcee Stormy Buonantony, Studio Host at VCiN, The Sports Betting Network, and ESPN reporter. Then guests will move to the field for a one-of-a-kind post-event networking reception with stadium tours and a field goal kick activation.
“There couldn’t be a better time to celebrate the intersection of gaming and sports and the impact these industries are making on the City of Las Vegas,” says Bronwen Gregg, president of WISE Las Vegas and membership co-chair of GGW. “While both industries have traditionally been male-dominated, women are now making an impression more than ever. We can’t wait to honor and recognize that influence at Las Vegas’ first ‘Women of Inspiration’ event the day after International Women’s Day.”
Professional sports in Las Vegas have increased since the Vegas Golden Knights became the city’s first major league professional sports team in 2017. The Aces of the WNBA (formerly the San Antonio Stars) moved to Las Vegas in 2018 and became the city’s first professional sports champions in 2022. The arrival of the Las Vegas Raiders from Oakland in 2020, and Allegiant Stadium, the highest-grossing entertainment venue of 2022, was built in 2020.
The rise of professional sports in Las Vegas is complemented by the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of PASPA in 2018, which opened the door for states to begin regulating online sports betting. In less than five years, US sports betting revenue has climbed to an impressive $7.5 billion with only 33 states and DC live and operational. With the increase in popularity and regulation of online sports betting and iGaming, U.S. casino gaming revenue is reaching record-breaking highs of an estimated $100 billion in commercial and tribal revenue in 2022, according to the American Gaming Association.
Formula 1 is planning the first Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2023, which will recur annually through 2032, and Allegiant Stadium will host Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024. There are also talks about bringing MLB, NBA, and MLS teams to Las Vegas soon.
“We are excited to partner with Wise Las Vegas to launch the “Women of Inspiration” annual celebration. The interconnectivity between sports and gaming has been a catalyst for growth and innovation in the gaming industry, particularly with the expansion of sports betting throughout the United States and sports related events in Las Vegas. The opportunity to gather to celebrate and be inspired by women that have been so instrumental to the successful and responsible maturation of our industry aligns perfectly with Global Gaming Women’s mission of supporting and encouraging women’s professional advancement in all sectors of our industry.” said Cassie Stratford, president of Global Gaming Women.
Women of Inspiration is grateful for sponsors, including Allegiant Stadium, Aristocrat, Insight Global, Monument Consulting, Hard Rock Las Vegas, UFC, the Vegas Golden Knights, Penn Entertainment, and Josh Line Photography.
