Las Vegas to host the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl game

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 21, 2020, an aerial view shows construction continuing at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas will host the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl game at their new state-of- the-art, 65,000 seat Allegiant Stadium in January 2021, the league announced on June 16, 2020. The $1.8 billion facility, which is still under construction, will be the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AM

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Las Vegas will host the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl game at their new state-of- the-art, 65,000 seat Allegiant Stadium next January, the league announced on Tuesday.

The $1.8 billion facility, which is still under construction, will be the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders, who moved from Oakland this offseason, are scheduled to play the first regular-season game at Allegiant Stadium against New Orleans on September 21. The stadium is expected to be completed next month.

“We look forward to partnering with the Raiders and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to bring the excitement of Pro Bowl week to our Las Vegas fans and community for the first time,” said NFL vice-president Peter O’Reilly on Tuesday.

The Pro Bowl has been held the past four years in Orlando, Florida.

“Pro Bowl week is a celebration of the best the NFL has to offer and there is no better place than Las Vegas to celebrate and honor the league’s biggest stars,” said Raiders president Marc Badain.

Las Vegas was set to host the 2020 entry draft but that fell through when the new coronavirus pandemic hit the US in February. Las Vegas will now host the 2022 draft.