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Steve Marcus
British Airways CEO Willie Walsh, left, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman are greeting by showgirls after arriving on an inaugural flight for British Airways at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. The new daily nonstop service is between London’s Heathrow Airport and Las Vegas.
Published Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 | 11:39 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 | 12:17 p.m.
Just three days back from a traipse through London to talk up Las Vegas’ new partnership with British Airways, Mayor Oscar Goodman has turned his attention closer to home. Or, at least, closer to his City Hall office.
At the core of the most recent downtown development discussion is the long-latent concept of an arena in downtown Las Vegas, a project that might well occupy an entertainment district where the mayor’s office sits today.
As city spokesman Jace Radke confirmed today, the city is seeking to embark on an exclusive negotiating agreement with The Cordish Companies, a commercial real estate corporation based in Baltimore. Cordish has developed several entertainment/event districts across the country, including The Walk in Atlantic City, Ballpark Village in St. Louis and Daytona Live in Daytona Beach, Fla. The parcel of land in play for a possible entertainment district/hotel-casino/arena project is the 18 acres on which City Hall is located and the area adjacent to the building (six acres for the government office complex and another 12 just to the east).
The City Council will review the feasibility of a long-term development agreement between the city and The Cordish Companies at the City Council meeting on Nov. 4.
So let me get this straight - we have a mayor (the height of ineffectual leadership) wanting to give taxpayer dollars to a real estate developer to build an arena and entertainment complex with the hopes of the city benefiting from the subsequent tax revenue? How innovative! I guess the "build and they will come" motto still stands eh?
This is a great idea...
You know those things that all the negative Nancys on here scream about us not having... Well this is a big huge leap in the right direction toward us having real city life... You are talking about developing on a piece of real estate that is right on top of a downtown district they have been priming for years to be revitalized... I can remember when there were areas of Gas Lamp you didn't walk through after dark, yup there sits PetCo... I have also heard stories of that in LoDo and there sits Coors Field... and those are 2 cities that are quite a bit older then we are to the effect of 2 times older... Look what a sports arena did for both of them....
And the positives are jobs... and not just construction, but us being able to start attracting real business with the fact we have things to offer... Cause I have to figure that the intention here is a Major sports franchise... Not just the old motto of build build build... I think it is safe to say those days are gone...
Also keep in mind this is a City project... Guess what most of the people here live in Clark County not the City of Las Vegas, including the corporations on the strip (Township of Paradise)... The tax money is probably not coming from the majority of people here unless the county or state approves... and considering the county has been trying to pull of the same venue back behind Bally's (which is a dumb idea)... chances are they are not going to share with the city...
With the $8 Billion combination of Echelon and F'Bleau unfinished and the lending markets "constricted", who is going to invest in or loan on this project? Las Vegas doesn't need any more Casinos for at least 10 years and the footprint is too small. The location, however, is fantastic, and if the Lady Luck were included as the Casino base, then it might be less of a boondogle. This project is doomed, IMO, by Nevadans refusal to pay it for with public funding (tax dollars). The Casino windfall has allowwed Nevadans to have a warped understanding of the public cost of Civic improvement projects.
Hello, Phoenix Coyotes...
newman2 may just be on to something...
The pro sports leagues (smaller maket cities, specifically) are most likely going to take a big hit in this economy. Ultimately, the leagues may have to downsize. However, I'm sure the leagues would rather "gamble" on relocating a hurting franchise to Vegas.
Good to hear....let's get this thing started and get it done.
Beware of Cordish - I am surprised that Ballpark Village is mentioned. For a long time it was a hole in the ground and I think at the time of last summer's all star game it was a grassy lawn. They also have a horrible project in Niagara Falls, NY that is a failure and in fact has done damage to the downtown area. They failed to do a project in Buffalo, NY. Good luck with that one. Yes, they are politically connected.
we just don't learn our lessons, huh?
all the politicians talk about a "diverse" economy, but when it comes down to it, they can't get that "tourism / construction / entertainment" needle out of their arm.
arenas and pro sports teams are such a freaking joke. they bring $8.00 per hour jobs and only make money for the companies that build them.
and for real...let's stop using "showgirls" to represent vegas. it's old and cheesy. are there even any shows with showgirls in vegas anymore?
I have a better idea. Why not keep the city hall there and forget building another expensive one?
Yep. We HAVE a city hall, and the city isn't getting any bigger -we're LOSING population. And the exodus has only just begun. As for giving away yet more public lands to private developers -NO WAY. Just like the latest pie-in-the-sky condo boondoggles downtown that have no occupants, or the disasters on the strip, like Fountain Bleu, Echolon Place, Trump Tower, Allure, City Center... this too will crap out. Except I guarantee you -this time we taxpayers will be left directly holding the bag. Don't buy that garbage that the project will "pay for itself." The city will be locked into a long-term lease paying through the nose as they will waste no time in raising the current city hall. Plus citizens will lose ownership of the 18 acres of choice property.
Just say NO, and let Oscar get back to what he's good at: attracting medical centers and foreign airlines. If he needs a few showgirls as cheesecake for luring the limeys, it's okay.
Remember the Las Vegas Possee? The Las Vegas Outlaws? The Las Vegas Americans? ( indoor soccer) The Las Vegas Silver streaks? ( basketball ) Arena Football? Las Vegas Thunder? These were minor league and nobody supported them so why would a Major league team succeed here? At least back in the day when they had pro wrestling at the old Showboat people packed the arena, go figure.