Sneaker Con Las Vegas: Where Sole Meets Soul In Sin City

Any self-proclaimed sneakerhead knows all about Sneaker Con and has likely attended at least one.

With Sneaker Con in Las Vegas this weekend, July 20-21, it's the perfect time for anyone in the city to check it out and maybe get a new pair of shoes. And since NBA2K25 Summer League is currently happening in Vegas, it seems like the perfect time to grab the attention of some die-hard sneaker lovers since basketball and sneakers go hand-in-hand.

Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, trade, or just see some of the most popular and newly released kicks, Sneaker Con promises an exciting adventure. 

I went to Sneaker Con Las Vegas on Saturday to see what all the hype is about. I took my 18-year-old sneakerhead son with me since he’s always wanted to get to an event, but timing and location have stopped him in the past. While he’s known for buying, selling, and trading sneakers, he decided to just go check it all out and basically wing it. (Which in sneakerhead language means - if I see something I love, I’m buying it.) 

Sneaker Con Las Vegas is being held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on the south end of the infamous Vegas Strip on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, from 12-7 p.m. PST.

According to their website, “Over 350 vendors will offer the largest showcase of everything from the most sought-after kicks to the latest releases. This will be more than a marketplace; it’s our celebration of sneakers in Sin City.” 

The website also said that there will be “favorite content creators,” panels, and more. You can also get your sneakers authenticated by “eBay’s authenticity guaranteed experts,” win prizes, take part in “40 for 40 Game Show,” and much more.

Since this was our first time at a Sneaker Con, we went into the experience not exactly knowing what to expect. There were tons of vendors, music playing, and like-minded sneaker-loving people from wall to wall.

For any sneaker enthusiast looking to sell or trade shoes, there were many different vendors doing just that. And of course, sneakers as far as the eye could see to buy. Plus there were vendors selling clothing, art, and other popular sneaker culture items.

And even if you're not in the market for another pair of shoes (although that's not really a thing in sneaker world) just walking around and taking it all in is still a good time.

Tickets were around $30 a person and a stamp on the hand meant you could come and go throughout the day.

According to 303 Magazine, founding member and current Managing Director of Sneaker Con, Will Debord, played a pivotal role in the sneaker convention’s development since 2009, when it debuted in New York. He told the magazine that his college summer internship working on Sneaker Con’s website was a big step forward into today’s success.

It was Debord’s early love for sneakers that helped propel him to the success he has today.

“I would drool window shopping, wishing I could afford to buy more,” he told 303 Magazine. After getting a pair of Air Jordan 13 from his father for his birthday, his love of sneakers took off.

“I never looked back. I did any job to make money and buy kicks,” he continued. “I’ve been fortunate to do something I love and want to share my passion with the next generation.” 

After a successful first convention in New York, Debord and other founders knew they needed to take their show on the road to other areas.

They researched to find where people would embrace sneaker culture and eventually landed in Washington, D.C. for their second city debut. With a larger turnout, they continued to expand with their next show in Miami, then off to Los Angeles, and then eventually Sneaker Con went international. 

Since starting out, things have taken many turns and evolved in a variety of different ways. And today, they are still going strong with a show in Vegas currently, then they are off to Tokyo and Washington, D.C. for a show August 17-18, Dallas August 24-25, Minneapolis and London September 7, and NYC September 21-22. 

This year marks 15 years for the sneaker convention that many sneakerheads look forward to each year. 

“It’s beautiful to see all different types of people come together at our events,” Debord said. He also explained that the team focuses on providing entrepreneurial spaces where the younger generation can learn about business and use their platforms to launch a career. 

“Most [kids] lives nowadays are digital from the start,” he said. “We want to show [kids] how fulfilling success derived through design, art, reselling, collecting, and connecting in person can be.” 

For more information on Sneaker Con, visit their website.