Relocate NBA, NHL and WNBA franchises to Las Vegas

[buffhockey]

Things like this are being printed on a more frequent basis.....

NORM: Silver State Arena plan stays active - News - ReviewJournal.com

With the NBA's annual owners' meeting here in four weeks, representatives of the proposed Silver State Arena are moving with urgency on several fronts.

Reps for the arena contacted UNLV last week regarding the possible interim use of the Thomas & Mack Center for an NBA franchise, Vegas Confidential has learned. In a related development, Boyd Group has been contacted by the Silver State Arena group about the possibility of the interim use of The Orleans for an NHL franchise.

An internal NBA committee has been established specifically to evaluate the feasibility of a franchise for Las Vegas, and the NBA owners probably will receive a status update on July 12, the day of the league meetings.

The arena investment group, headed by Christopher Milam, if successful in acquiring NBA and NHL franchises, would relocate them to Las Vegas upon purchase. That would allow the two franchises two seasons to get the organization and players acclimated to the community, develop a fan support base and establish proficient operations. The plan calls for the 20,000-seat arena, which sits on the former Wet 'n Wild site between the Sahara and the incomplete Fontainebleau, to be completed in the fall of 2012.

That timetable is contingent on Clark County commissioners approving partial public funds from the redevelopment district, which was formed almost 10 years ago. The commissioners meet Tuesday to consider several arena proposals. The Silver State Arena financing proposal contemplates no new taxes.

Milam, CEO of International Development Management, told the commissioners at the initial hearing last month the $750 million arena would be 85 percent privately funded, with the other 15 percent coming from the redevelopment agency. Milam said the new arena would create 10,000 jobs, 7,600 of them permanent, and add 100 new event days to the local schedule.

Milam, reached late Sunday night, acknowledged by e-mail that "it is our desire to acquire and relocate NBA, NHL and WNBA franchises to Las Vegas, and to do so at this time, and it is correct that we have opened initial discussions."

It has been reported that an arena has to be a nongaming facility and not associated with any outside hotel or gaming operation.

 

[dash]

I think it's going to happen as well. I know I would get a kick out of a NHL team in Vegas.

 

[Rossinole]

It seems inevitable an NHL team is going to end up in Las Vegas. Whether that occurs by relocation or expansion is another issue.

 

[davnlaguna]

Maybe the Coyotes could move there. They would still be close enough to AZ to claim TV rights (yeah I know Phx is as far as LA from Vegas) but with a better arena deal.
It would allow the NHL to say they haven't left the market but still start over.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I just hope the new Vegas arena doesnt end up located on a man made island in the middle of Lake Mead

 

[elocomotive]

I always thought the NHL would be smart to be the first in Vegas. Imagine how many visiting team fans would travel there to lump it with a weekend or a few days in Vegas? Plus, you have no professional teams there for any sport nor much of a college following either.

I think one thing is for sure - the arena would probably be ridiculously awesome. Slots at each seat? Play blackjack while you watch the game? Could be incredible.

 

[puckhead]

I always thought the NHL would be smart to be the first in Vegas. Imagine how many visiting team fans would travel there to lump it with a weekend or a few days in Vegas? Plus, you have no professional teams there for any sport nor much of a college following either.

I think one thing is for sure - the arena would probably be ridiculously awesome. Slots at each seat? Play blackjack while you watch the game? Could be incredible.

ticket pricing would be interesting"
M-Th: $10, includes two drinks, a jersey, and a buffet.
F-Su: $100 - $3,000. Drinks are $12 each. Hookers are in the luxury suites.

 

[awaz]

i brought this up a while back on the espn flyers board.. i really think an NHL team in vegas would be a great idea.. mixing gambling with hockey could be golden.. plus the first pro-sports team in vegas is going to get tons of national coverage to see if it works.. i dont think there is a downside to it

like someone said above.. its all in how you build the arena..

and just to show i've been thinking about it for a while.. name the team the snake-eyes and hand out fuzzy dice (all with snake eye shaped 1's) to twirl around instead of rally towels

 

[BOSSMANPC]

If they move the team to Vegas they could call the ice girls. The Hooker Dames.

 

[Automattic]

I know I would try to take in a Wings game there right away.

 

[buffhockey]

County commissioners to hear proposal today - Jun 15, 2010

SPORTS ARENA PLANS: Company dangles pro lure - News - ReviewJournal.com

Jun. 15, 2010
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal



LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Banners on a fence around the proposed construction site for the Silver State Arena on Las Vegas Boulevard suggest 10,000 jobs could be created.


A sports arena proponent hopes to win over Clark County commissioners today with his plan to draw professional basketball and hockey teams to the area.
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a lot more - click the link above...

 

[buffhockey]

found a website for the proposed arena

Silver State Arena | Stimulating the Economy - Creating Jobs

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I was surprised to hear Nevadas unemployment rate is somewhere around 14.5%. The tourist industry must be hurting big time.

 

[buffhockey]

I was surprised to hear Nevadas unemployment rate is somewhere around 14.5%. The tourist industry must be hurting big time.

Tourism/gaming is down, but not as much as it was.

Unemployment - construction is in the dumper.

However, one of the state's other largest employment sectors, construction, has fallen to a level not seen in 15 years. The industry has lost almost 60% of the jobs it created during the height of the housing boom in June 2006.

from here:
http://image.examiner.com/x-33275-Las-Vegas-Business-and-Economy-Examiner~y2010m5d21-Las-Vegas-and-Nevadas-unemployment-rate-break-new-records

 

[BostonAJ]

Rick Tocchet could be GM.

 

[dash]

Rick Tocchet could be GM.

Janet Gretzky as club president

 

[awaz]

ice girl captain?

avery would get a kick out of it i think

 

[buffhockey]

County KO's plans for three sports arenas

County KO's plans for three sports arenas - News - ReviewJournal.com

They don't want to spend public money on this. I thought it would be an investment - create jobs, create revenue, etc.

Hopefully a private investor shows up & tells them to pound sand...

 

[Dupster]

After the NBA held some festivities in Las Vegas, the entire city was of the same mindset. They don't want the NBA in Vegas. Ever.