UNLV in talks to build stadium and entertainment complex

[Mike0476]

This article doesn't mention the NBA or the Kings...just what you see in bold.

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/unlv-in-talks-to-build-stadium-and-entertainment-complex-114235759.html

The possible new stadium is expected to house more than UNLV football. It also could handle basketball games and special events such as the National Finals Rodeo -- a reliable sellout at the Thomas & Mack -- and potential Pac-12 Conference Championship should Las Vegas ever be awarded that football game.

University president Neal Smatresk said in a statement Wednesday he has been in talks with Ed Roski and Craig Cavileer to form "a public-private partnership."
Roski owns Los Angeles-based Majestic Realty, one of the world's largest commercial builders. He also helped build L.A.'s Staples Center, and he has a stake in both the NBA's Lakers and NHL's Kings.

 

[JB_kings]

I think they are talking in terms of a situation like college basketball and the Final Four. They would have a setup similar to the Silverdome for hosting 30,000 plus. NBA teams have tried these facilities and run away from them within a few years.

 

[Trueblood]

Yeah, this is strictly for UNLV and other non NBA related events.

The city council decides in March if they are going to go through with the NHL/NBA arena.

 

[Larry David]

Vegas has lot of big issues. New design not great for NBA.

http://www.unlvnow.com/index-1.html

However, new place doesn't appear to be "non-NBA." They want a team there and you could do it.

Nothing to sweat at this point for many reasons, but its almost a viable NBA arena. I think any owner would want to wait out for the other project to be done ... like people have said, its a little rough playing a place this big long term ... but its built a lot smarter than the Alamodome.

 

[Trueblood]

Still, this is completely separate from the NBA/NHL arena that they want to put downtown. Regardless of whether or not an NBA team can be in this building, it's not an ideal situation and if the league is going to suck it up and go to Vegas, they are going to want an ideal arena situation, not another dome. Dome's are out.

 

[Arena Skeptic]

The real threat here is that 4-5 cities already seem to be at least 2-3 steps ahead of Sacramento. Plus, that March 1 deadline for the Maloofs looms. Not the relocation deadline, but the Palms payment.

I'm with other observers on this; the NBA won't want a "convertible" arena. They want an arena between 18,000 and 22,000 seats (depending on market size).

The proposal before the Nevada legislature is a much bigger threat than this new UNLV proposal. Actually, air-finger quotes around "proposal"; this isn't very far along yet. Which is yet another reason Sacramento should be worried; we have no financial proposal yet. At least Omaha, KC and others have arenas, and LV has a proposed financing mechanism, and Anaheim, SJ and KC are set.

Sacramento has financially distressed ownership and nothing resembling a plan. Oh well.

 

[kennadog]

I'm curious to see if their State legislature will approve any funding for an arena right now. Their State budget is actually in worse condition than California's.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I'm curious to see if their State legislature will approve any funding for an arena right now. Their State budget is actually in worse condition than California's.

Indeed...as a former LV resident not that long ago, I can 2nd that! Nevada's economy is in crazy shambles right now, especially in the Reno and Vegas area(Reno is on life support right now).

 

[Trueblood]

I'm curious to see if their State legislature will approve any funding for an arena right now. Their State budget is actually in worse condition than California's.

Agreed. I really feel that Stern doesn't want the Vegas market and the horrible financial condition makes it even worse. OTOH, if they do pass this, they become a major player due to the Maloofs having a foot in the Vegas market already. They'll have to sell a large chunk of ownership percentage to another local to payoff the Sacramento loan and the Palms revolver but anything Vegas has to offer is a heckuva lot more than what we have going right now.

 

[kennadog]

But why would all the LV sports betting places/casinos agree to take NBA basketball off their books? That's a lot of money for them to give up to benefit the Kings ownership.

 

[ArcoKings]

But why would all the LV sports betting places/casinos agree to take NBA basketball off their books? That's a lot of money for them to give up to benefit the Kings ownership.

I read in a newspaper not too long ago that if an NBA team would play in Las Vegas that presumably no bets would be taken on the Las Vegas team all season long (home and away) in Las Vegas. The rest of the NBA would stand.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I read in a newspaper not too long ago that if an NBA team would play in Las Vegas that presumably no bets would be taken on the Las Vegas team all season long (home and away) in Las Vegas. The rest of the NBA would stand.

Yup, that's always the way it was said...with ANY pro sports team that ever moved there. That's a pretty good chunk of change too.