Nayarit in sports is no longer a surprise: since 2024, the state’s logo has appeared in the Los Angeles Lakers’ arena, in Dallas Cowboys promotions and at the Vancouver Canucks’ Rogers Arena. At the same time, Punta Mita hosts golf tournaments with stars like Lorena Ochoa, and the Riviera Nayarit has become a backdrop for magazine covers. Here are the partnerships, events and media appearances we could confirm, with dates and places.
This isn’t just bragging rights: these deals help explain why there are more flights and more marketing aimed at the U.S. and Canada, and some of the events are things you can experience as a visitor. We update this page when new partnerships or events come up; if something you read on social media isn’t here, it’s because we couldn’t verify it.
At a glance: Nayarit in sports, media and celebrity news
| Year | Partnership, event or appearance | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 (Sep 27–29) | 15th Aeroméxico Golf Tournament, featuring Lorena Ochoa | Punta Mita, Bahía de Banderas |
| 2024 (July) | Tourism partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers (three seasons) | Los Angeles, California |
| 2024 (summer) | U.S. Vogue cover with Kendall Jenner, shot on the Riviera Nayarit | Riviera Nayarit coast |
| 2024 (August) | Official Mexican Tourism Destination of the Dallas Cowboys | The Star, Frisco, Texas |
| 2024 (October) | Official Mexican Tourism Destination of the Vancouver Canucks | Rogers Arena, Vancouver, Canada |
| 2025 (Dec 4–7) | American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf | Punta Mita, Bahía de Banderas |
| Every season (Oct–May) | Polo matches, tournaments and lessons at La Patrona | San Francisco (San Pancho), Bahía de Banderas |
Nayarit in pro sports: Lakers, Cowboys and Canucks
Between July and October 2024, Nayarit’s state government signed three partnerships with major North American league teams. The logic is simple: Los Angeles, Texas and Canada are among the biggest sources of visitors to the Riviera Nayarit, and a pro game puts the state’s brand in front of millions of fans.
Los Angeles Lakers (NBA)
Governor Miguel Ángel Navarro Quintero announced the Lakers partnership in July 2024, set to run for three seasons. It includes Nayarit tourism branding in the team’s arena, on the court and on broadcasts, content on the team’s social channels and hospitality experiences for fans. The formal launch was announced in October 2024, at the start of the NBA season. Los Angeles is the top U.S. source market for Nayarit, and since July 2025 there’s also a Volaris nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Tepic.
Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
In late August 2024, at The Star, the Cowboys’ headquarters in Frisco, Texas, the governor made Nayarit the NFL team’s Official Mexican Tourism Destination. The deal covers event activations, stadium signage, social media promotions with VIP experiences, and TV and radio advertising.
Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
In October 2024, Nayarit became the Official Mexican Tourism Destination of the Canucks and their home arena, Rogers Arena. The partnership with Canucks Sports & Entertainment includes in-arena events, signage and social media promotions with VIP experiences, in a campaign timed for winter, exactly when the most Canadians head to the Nayarit coast.
What it means for you as a traveler
These deals don’t change what you’ll find when you arrive, but they do explain the extra marketing and new air routes. If you’re coming from the U.S. or Canada, check our guide on how to get to Nayarit: most flights land at Puerto Vallarta’s airport, a few minutes from Nuevo Vallarta, and some fly straight into Tepic. The NBA, NFL and NHL seasons overlap with the dry season on the Nayarit coast (November to May) and with humpback whale season (December to March), so it’s a great time to pair your trip with a boat tour on the Bay of Banderas or a day at the Islas Marietas, where calm water and clear skies make for easy snorkeling.
Golf in Punta Mita: tournaments and courses
Punta Mita, in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, is Nayarit’s best-known golf destination. It has two Jack Nicklaus courses: Pacífico, famous for hole 3B, the “Tail of the Whale,” with its green on a natural rock island in the ocean, and Bahía, overlooking the Bay of Banderas.
15th Aeroméxico Golf Tournament (2023)
From September 27 to 29, 2023, Punta Mita hosted the 15th Aeroméxico Golf Tournament, with Lorena Ochoa as the headline name and about 130 guests from Mexico, the U.S., Canada, Europe and South America. It was a charity event: proceeds supported the education of underprivileged children through Fundación Becar. Later editions moved to other venues.
American Express Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf (2025)
From December 4 to 7, 2025, Punta Mita paired golf and food in an event with guest chefs, the Punta Mita Golf Cup on the Pacífico and Bahía courses, and a golf challenge with Lorena Ochoa and Rafael Alarcón. The program also included whale watching and visits to raicilla (a regional agave spirit) distilleries in Sayulita. If you want to play, compare the state’s courses in our guide to golf courses in Nayarit.
Polo in San Pancho: La Patrona
A few minutes from Sayulita, in San Francisco (better known as San Pancho), La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club spreads over more than 200 hectares with three polo fields. The season runs roughly October through May, with matches, tournaments and Sunday brunch; there’s no play in the off-season. The club offers private and group lessons for beginners, starting on a practice horse to learn the mallet before you ride, and it lends equipment. Confirm schedules and rates directly with the club, since they change each season.
If you’d rather be on the water, the Nayarit coast has two other sports with deep roots: surfing in Sayulita, Punta Mita and San Blas and sport fishing.
Nayarit in the media and celebrity news
The Riviera Nayarit has drawn privacy-seeking celebrities for years, especially to the gated communities of Punta Mita and Mandarina. But a private stay can’t always be confirmed, so this page only includes public, documented appearances.
Kendall Jenner’s Vogue cover (2024)
U.S. Vogue’s summer 2024 cover, starring Kendall Jenner, was shot on a beach in Mexico; according to press reports, the shoot took place on the Riviera Nayarit at One&Only Mandarina, near Lo de Marcos. The photos are by the duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, and the issue marked Jenner’s ten years as a model. Vogue France reused the same shoot for its August 2024 cover.
How to see the “cover-shoot” Riviera
You don’t need a celebrity budget to explore this coast. Lo de Marcos, a few miles from Mandarina, is a laid-back town with a public beach; San Pancho and Sayulita have a village feel with surf and good restaurants; and boat trips to the Islas Marietas leave from Punta Mita. To pick a hotel or restaurant in the area, check the Nayarit directory or our overview of the destinations of Nayarit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nayarit an official destination of the Lakers?
Yes. In July 2024, Nayarit’s government announced a three-season tourism partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers, with state branding in the arena, on the court and on the team’s social channels.
Which pro teams promote Nayarit?
The Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and the Vancouver Canucks (NHL). All three deals were signed between July and October 2024; for the Cowboys and Canucks, Nayarit is their Official Mexican Tourism Destination.
Where can you play golf in Nayarit?
The best-known courses are Pacífico and Bahía in Punta Mita, both designed by Jack Nicklaus. They’ve hosted events like the 15th Aeroméxico Golf Tournament (2023) and Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf (2025).
Can you learn to play polo in Nayarit?
Yes. La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club in San Pancho offers beginner lessons and lends equipment. The playing season runs roughly from October to May.
Where was Kendall Jenner’s Vogue cover shot in Mexico?
Vogue’s summer 2024 cover was shot on the Riviera Nayarit coast; press reports placed the shoot at One&Only Mandarina, near Lo de Marcos.
