Where is Nevada in the Compact?

After visiting Las Vegas this past weekend, I was reminded of something that keeps nagging at me:

Why wasn’t Nevada one of the first states in the Athletic Training Compact?

Few states have embraced sports tourism the way Nevada has. I would have gambled and taken bets that Nevada would be leading the line on this opportunity.

Las Vegas has transformed itself from a gaming destination into one of the premier sports destinations in the country. The city now hosts the NFL, NHL, WNBA, Formula 1, UFC, NASCAR, NCAA championships, major boxing events, professional golf, international soccer exhibitions, wrestling events, and countless youth and amateur tournaments throughout the year. Sporting events alone have generated an estimated $1.8 billion+ in economic activity from out-of-town visitors in Southern Nevada.

The city continues to double down on sports tourism because it brings visitors, hotel stays, tax revenue, and economic development. Nevada leaders have openly identified sports as a key driver of future tourism growth.

Which raises a question:

If Nevada is betting so heavily on sports, why hasn’t it become a leader in workforce mobility for sports medicine professionals?

The Athletic Training Compact was created to help athletic trainers practice across state lines more efficiently. For a state that hosts major sporting events virtually every weekend, the ability to rapidly bring in qualified providers seems like it would be a strategic advantage.

Athletic trainers travel. Sports travel. Events travel.

The workforce should be able to move with them.

It’s a genuine question after spending time in a city that has become one of America’s premier sports destinations.

What barriers still exist?

Is it legislative priorities?

Regulatory concerns?

Lack of awareness?

Something else entirely?

I’d be interested to hear perspectives from Nevada athletic trainers and policymakers.

Because from the outside looking in, Nevada seems like a state that should be leading this conversation not watching it from the sidelines.