Landmark Investment Deepens Strategic Alignment as Players Era Expands Las Vegas Footprint Across T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob ULTRA Arena
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (OCTOBER 13, 2026) — Players Era, the premier college sports event operator, today announced that MGM Resorts International has made a minority equity investment in the company. The strategic investment formalizes a long-term partnership between MGM Resorts and Players Era.
MGM Resorts served as a foundational partner during Players Era’s inception by hosting its marquee events, supporting the initial vision to transform early-season collegiate competition into a playoff-like atmosphere through elite matchups and landmark NIL opportunities.
Since launching in 2024, Players Era has experienced exponential growth, expanding from a single men’s basketball event in Las Vegas to a multi-sport, international property that hosts four events broadcast live across ESPN and FOX Sports.
The inaugural Men’s Championship began as a 12-game slate in a single venue at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and has expanded into a 50-game, multi-sport event featuring multiple MGM Resorts venues (T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena and/or Michelob ULTRA Arena). Today, MGM Resorts serves as the official host destination for the Players Era Men’s Championship, the Players Era Women’s Basketball Showcase, and the Players Era Volleyball Showcase.
By staging post-season-caliber matchups early in the competitive calendar, Players Era brings together the best programs in college sports under one roof, delivering a playoff-level environment for athletes, broadcasters, and fans alike.
Seth Berger, CEO of Players Era, said, “MGM Resorts was the very first partner to believe in Players Era. From day one, they shared our vision that fans and student-athletes deserve the best of the best – elite matchups, postseason intensity in November, and a world-class host environment. We could not be more thankful to expand our partnership."
Ian Orefice, CEO of EverWonder Studio, said, “MGM Resorts’ decision to back Players Era as an equity investor reflects the strength of the business model, the immense commercial demand for premium college sports IP, and the unrivaled quality of the product on the floor. MGM Resorts has been a cornerstone partner from the beginning, and this expanded relationship positions Players Era for accelerated long-term growth.”
Dan Bernbach, MGM Resorts’ Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Events and Development, said, “MGM Resorts has proudly served as the home of the Players Era Men’s Championship, Women’s Basketball Showcase, and Volleyball Showcase. Players Era is a key component of our long-term strategy to develop and grow successful event franchises. We have witnessed first-hand how rapidly these events have captured the attention of sports fans nationwide, driving meaningful visitation to the destination. Our relationship with the Players Era team is strong and this investment reinforces our commitment to delivering student-athletes and fans with memorable Las Vegas experiences in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World.”
About Players Era
Players Era, the premier college sports event operator and an EverWonder Studio company, is built to reimagine collegiate athletics through innovative NIL opportunities, elite competition, and world-class fan experiences. Today, Players Era operates several marquee destination events, anchored by the Players Era Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in Las Vegas –featuring 24 of the nation’s top men’s programs (including four of the five last men’s NCAA champions) alongside a star-studded women’s showcase featuring multiple Sweet 16 contenders and two of the last three national champions. The company also operates the inaugural Players Era Volleyball Showcase in Las Vegas and the Eternal City Tip-Off, a season-opening international men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader in Rome. Through partnerships with leading universities, broadcasters, and global brands, Players Era continues to elevate the student-athlete experience while bringing the best of college sports to fans around the world.
For more information, visit www.playersera.com.
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global gaming and entertainment company with national and international destinations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 30 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company's 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers sports betting and online gaming in North America through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker, and the Company's subsidiary, LV Lion Holding Limited, offers sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands in several jurisdictions throughout Europe and Brazil. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through an integrated resort development in Japan. Through its Focused on What Matters philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests and in the communities where it operates. The global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information, please visit us at mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on X as well as Facebook and Instagram.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in MGM Resorts' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "could," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "likely," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "projects," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. MGM Resorts has based forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, MGM Resorts' expectations regarding its minority investment in and ongoing partnership with Players Era. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include risks that the partnership and related events do not occur or do not occur in the manner described herein; any other event or factor which may prevent or inhibit MGM Resorts' ability participate in the events described herein; the effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which MGM Resorts operates and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world; and additional risks and uncertainties described in MGM Resorts' Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports). In providing forward-looking statements, MGM Resorts is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If MGM Resorts updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward-looking statements.
Media Contacts:
Allison Otis
SRK Strategies
allison@srkstrategies.com
Scott Ghertner
MGM Resorts International
sghertner@mgmresorts.com
