Forget the holidays; in Las Vegas, September is the most wonderful and exciting time of the year. This month marks the start of a new school year, the start of the football season and the start of fall.

The start of the school year means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To parents with children who aren’t in year-round school, it brings relief after a hectic summer of keeping children busy, entertained and out of trouble. For returning students of all ages, it brings the excitement of reuniting with old friends, facing new challenges and learning new things.

It’s also a good time to look at the options available for returning students. There are plenty of options in Las Vegas for people to continue their education. Whether you’re a floor supervisor looking to continue your climb up the corporate ladder, a back of the house worker looking to get out on the casino floor, or someone looking to tap into all the opportunities of the city’s gaming and hospitality industry, there is a program for you. Writer Sharon Denning tracked down some of the education offerings throughout Las Vegas and explains everything they have to offer in her story “Education Matters.”

More so than other cities, September is particularly exciting in Las Vegas, with two big title fights and three mixed martial arts battles in the month. Add to that the start of a new football season—college and pro—and the start of the Major League Baseball playoffs and the ensuing excitement in the city’s sports books, and you’ve got a recipe for non-stop entertainment each and every day.

We are also lucky enough to be in a city with a Division I NCAA football team that is expecting a good season this year. And, even if the team doesn’t fare well, they are bringing some great teams to Sam Boyd Stadium. The home opener against preseason No. 7 Wisconsin (full disclosure: I’m a UW alumnus) on September 8 is certain to be an exciting game, with the Badgers looking for some payback for UNLV’s exciting win in last year’s NCAA tournament. The week after that, the Rebels will host preseason No. 24 Hawaii and their star quarterback—and likely first round NFL draft pick—Colt Brennan. The Rebels wrap up their home stand the next week against Mountain West rival Utah. The Rebels aren’t receiving much preseason love, but wins or strong showings in those early games could set the team up for an impressive season.

Football and school aside, the best thing about September is the relief it brings from the triple-digit temperatures that mark summer in the desert. With the official start of fall on the 23rd, and average temperatures that top out in the high 80s by the end of the month, September marks the start of the outdoor recreation season in Las Vegas.

Many people see Las Vegas as nothing more than casinos, swimming pools and night clubs. But it is also the gateway to some of the most exciting outdoor recreation opportunities in the country. And unlike most of the U.S., which has just three or four months to enjoy the great outdoors, in the Southwest we have seven or eight months of beautiful weather that beckons even the hardiest of couch potatoes to take a break from the television and get some fresh air and exercise. There are more outdoor activities around Las Vegas than most people think, and Tann Summers touches on many of them in “The Great Outdoors.”

By Greg Jones

Greg Jones is managing editor of Casino Connection Nevada, as well as associate editor of Global Gaming Business magazine.

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