Interest in downtown Las Vegas arena grows

The potential for a downtown sports arena and performing arts center is mounting every day as Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman continues to receive calls from people with the means to make it happen.

"Literally every day we're getting inquiries from major players who are interested in coming here," Goodman said Thursday during his weekly press briefing.

Just this week Goodman met with representatives of the Bolshoi Ballet, which is in town to kick off a 25-city tour. The ballet is interested in the performing arts center concept and the possibility of introducing Southern Nevada youth to Russian-style dance.

Interest is just as heavy, if not more intense, about a possible sports arena.

And one name surfaces again and again as being a "major player" interested in getting involved in Las Vegas -- San Diego Padres Chairman John Moores.

Goodman said Moores will join him and Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury when they meet NBA Commissioner David Stern and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in New York later this month.

"He wants to hear about the possibility," Goodman said.

Moores previously met with Las Vegas officials when they visited San Diego in July and also came here to tour the vacant land adjacent to downtown eyed as the perfect site for a sports arena and/or a performing arts center.

A committee, organized by Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, is studying the feasibility of building an arena.

When that group next convenes Sept. 16, it is expected to ask for professional consulting help.

Mike Forche, president of the City Centre Development Corp., said he has received several unsolicited offers from such consultants. Those consultants, which carry a price tag of about $40,000, primarily examine financing options for an arena.

The committee will likely vote to hire one of the consultants with the daunting task of financing an arena, luring a professional team, calming competitive worries on the Strip and pleasing the public.

The cost is expected to be shared by the city, county and possibly the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Goodman, Woodbury, Forche, City Manager Virginia Valentine, County Manager Dale Askew and LVCVA Executive Director Manny Cortez all discussed that option during an arena subcommittee meeting Thursday.

The vacant 178 acres between the Spaghetti Bowl and the Clark County Government Center is owned primarily by Union Pacific Railroad. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. owns the 61.5-acre portion of the land nearest the freeway junction.

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