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Kevin Winters/Getty Images/ACM
Reba McEntire, stage manager Gary Natoli and Dick Clark Productions’ Executive VP of Television Barry Adelman onstage during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards rehearsals at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 16, 2010.
Published Thursday, May 27, 2010 | 4:27 p.m.
Updated Friday, May 28, 2010 | 8:25 a.m.
Sun Archives
- MGM Mirage opposes arena options seeking public financing (5-18-2010)
- County wants arena details, says public money unlikely (4-6-2010)
- Cowboys Stadium poses Texas-sized threat to Vegas (3-21-2010)
- Jerry Jones says Cowboys, NFL will lift boxing (3-9-2010)
- Rodeo rustler? Tourism officials worry Dallas Cowboys owner could steal Vegas event (3-4-2010)
- City OKs plan to study downtown arena, entertainment district (11-4-2009)
- Cordish projects include sports-anchored developments (11-4-2009)
- Goodman: 20,000-seat downtown arena could lure NBA team (10-29-09)
- Mayor seeking arena development deal for City Hall parcel (10-28-2009)
- With arena plan dead, what next for former REI Neon site? (8-2-2009)
The event mecca that is Las Vegas, specifically the MGM Grand, has helped the Academy of Country Music Awards show bloom to one of the year’s entertainment highlights.
In seven years the ACMAs have gone from modest moorings at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles to guaranteed sellouts at the Grand Garden Arena. Several million television viewers tune into the show, equal parts a celebration of country music and of Las Vegas, on CBS.
But in a confounding twist for the city’s civic leaders and officials at MGM Mirage, Las Vegas has helped the show become too large even for Las Vegas. But it is not too large for a venue that easily matches ACMA’s stature – Cowboys Stadium.
During a phone conversation today from his home in Los Angeles, ACM Executive Director Bob Romeo said the ACM Awards show is not guaranteed to be at the Grand Garden Arena or anywhere else in Las Vegas past next year’s broadcast set for April at the MGM Grand. Instead, Romeo and ACM officials are pushing hard to move the show to Cowboys Stadium in 2012.
“It’s a crazy thing to say we’ve outgrown Las Vegas, and when we moved there six years ago I wouldn’t believe I would have ever said that,” Romeo said. “But the truth is, we have a dilemma in that we don’t have enough seats to satisfy our needs.” Those needs include 3,000 tickets for sponsors such as Dr. Pepper, the MGM Grand’s allotment and a cut for industry VIPs. What’s left over are about 1,500 tickets sold to the public in a venue that seats about 11,000, total, for the event.
Cowboys Stadium can bring in an audience of between 56,000-60,000, which would be the greatest attendance ever for an awards show like the ACMAs.
“Last year, the lack of tickets available to the public generated 5,000 e-mails to our office,” Romeo said. “We had several thousand angry fans, and we need to do something about it.”
Nothing is settled, Romeo stressed, between ACM officials and Cowboys Stadium. No papers have yet been signed to move the show from Las Vegas, where it has been staged for the past six years (first at Mandalay Bay, and more recently at the Grand Garden Arena, where it has sold out three straight years).
To relocate for 2012, the show would need what Romeo says is “millions of dollars” in increased production costs to uproot from the now-intimate Grand Garden Arena to the behemoth that is Cowboys Stadium.
However, officials from the state of Texas have attended the past two ACMAs at MGM Grand. Texas is known for its healthy appetite for major events and its willingness to use public money to draw such events to big venues – and there is none larger than Cowboys Stadium, which drew nearly 51,000 for the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey bout in March and attracted 110,000 for this year’s NBA All-Star Game. The domed stadium featuring the famous “JerryVision” high-definition screen (Jerry, of course, being Cowboys owner Jerry Jones) looming over the surface, is also hosting next year’s Super Bowl.
To finance such high-profile spectacles, the Texas Event Trust Fund uses revenue from a 6-percent statewide tax on hotel rooms to subsidize the costs of staging major events in the Lone Star State, distributing the funds to municipalities that meet certain criteria.
If the money to meet those costs can be raised, it’s bye-bye not just to the awards show, but to all the peripheral events that made the ACM event a citywide country celebration in Las Vegas.
Tied to this year’s event were packed concerts at Fremont Street Experience headlined by Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney's 3D red carpet movie premiere at Town Square’s Rave Motion Pictures, and a Brooks & Dunn tribute the night after the awards show at MGM Grand. Plus, the country music stars had concerts and parties throughout town all week.
Absent, of course, is a facility in the middle of the action that can accommodate the ACMA’s need for additional seats. And Las Vegas is hardly blazing a trail in that direction.
On May 18, representatives of arena projects proposed for the Las Vegas area, including three on the Strip, appeared before the Clark County Commission. Represented was Texas-based IDM, which proposes a $750 million arena on the former Wet 'n Wild site off Sahara Avenue; Las Vegas Arena Foundation, a nonprofit group that wants to build a $488 million arena on property that Harrah's Entertainment Inc. owns behind Imperial Palace; and developer Garry Goett, who is looking to build a $600 million arena on 260 acres he owns near Las Vegas Boulevard, south of the Strip. Also appearing before the commission were representatives from Cordish Cos., which aims to develop an arena downtown.
The presentations were met by a skeptical County Commission, not eager to allocate public money for any arena, and argument from MGM Mirage executive Bill Hornbuckle, who said his company would be at a disadvantage when competing for events with a venue backed by public money. And all the Strip projects would require some sort of taxpayer funding.
Speaking only for the ACMs, Romeo said a 20,000-to-25,000-seat venue would make staying in Las Vegas highly attractive, and said that his organization would still partner with MGM Mirage officials to secure hotel rooms (up to 8,000 was his estimate) and host the support concerts and events tied to the event. The pre- and post-show parties, too, could be held at MGM Mirage properties – or anywhere else on the Strip.
“I don’t think MGM Grand would lose money if that were to happen, I really don’t,” he said. “If we have our all-star jam (concert) at the MGM Grand, people would be screaming for tickets. We need their hotel rooms.”
MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said he understood the business rationale of moving the country music awards show to a venue as large as Cowboys Stadium.
"If he sees a better financial package with 100,000 seats, and if that’s what you want your awards show to look like, then that’s a legitimate decision for him to make," Feldman said. "We just don’t have 100,000 seats.
"But separate and apart from a two- or three-hour event is looking at the integrity of the event over two or three days — of finding rooms at a good price, and having access to everything that goes on here."
Romeo said he’s not certain artists would want to move out of Las Vegas permanently, either. “They love coming to Las Vegas. Kix Brooks can meet Keith Urban at Craftsteak (at MGM Grand), then hit the craps tables. Spouses can go shopping, you can see a show and have great dining, all in very close proximity. We listen to our artists, too, because without them there is no show.”
But Romeo also said, “I know a lot of artists who have never had the chance to play before 60,000 people who would love to have that chance. It would be a dream come true to them, and to thousands of fans who can’t see the show live in Las Vegas.”
Though Romeo says a move to Cowboys Stadium is at the moment a 50-50 prospect, his vision for the event is so specific it seems highly likely the event already has one foot out the door. Even the ticket prices have been investigated, with the cost close to what fans are charged at the Grand Garden Arena, between $150 and $450.
The pre-show marketing strategy, too, is in place. In a move certain to raise the eyebrows of tourism officials in Las Vegas, Romeo said he plans to use the 2011 telecast from Las Vegas to promote and even sell tickets to the 2012 show at Cowboys Stadium.
“We intend to take advantage of those 13 million viewers,” he said. “We’ll give them a website where they can order tickets online, live, during the telecast.”
The telecast from Las Vegas, being used to promote a show at Cowboys Stadium. Maybe we should tweak that famous marketing slogan: What happens here, stays here. Until it doesn’t.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
i wonder if it's possible to set-design one of our fabulously large convention centers with cabaret tables and portable theatre-style seating to accommodate more vip's and other people? seems it would take less cash to do that than the millions estimated for ACMA to relocate to dallas. not to mention keeping a great event in a great city.
Ouch a kick in the groin to MGM and their substandard arena.
Maybe one of the new proposed arenas could have satisfied the CMA, but MGM is against that idea.
I wonder how much the monetary loss will be for MGM and related properties.
Tough luck MGM !
Funny how this is happening right at the time we are hinting at the idea of a public funded arena.
Building an arena that is at capacity only 4 times a year isn't the best of plans. What about the other 361 days. Who's going to use it then? The Kodak Theater seats only 3,300, the Staples Center seats 20K which are perfect for keeping prices high and building anticipation. If I knew I could always get a seat I would care less about getting one. It's called wanting what you can't have, but then when you get it you could careless. Besides, everyone knows once the Award show is over there is not much to do in Arlington, TX to stay entertained. Vegas doesn't have to have the biggest everything to keep business humming. We need to start playing to our strengths.
I'll have to say I agree with ronster. Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. Cya.
Agree with westvegas. Arlington is filled with ritchie rich Baptists who think a good time is playing cards on Saturday night, and praisin' the Lord on Sunday. Straight to hell if you drank on Saturday, too. Houston would be a better place. I built buildings in both cities, and hated Dallas. Let 'em have Arlington, we won't miss them at all.
I need to gas up the motorhome and offer these people a ride to the stadium. and then back again. Do the stadium first,get you a nice paycheck, pay off those maintenence guys, and grips, and then come back and play Vegas.
Perfect encore. Offer a package to see both shows. Plus, a series of basketball hoops pre show with contestants from the audience, bring your own balls-and the people will come, if not with cash, then with basketballs. but they will come. Let's rodeo.
Comment removed by moderator. Personal attack.
How about Sam Boyd Stadium with a seating capacity of over 35,000. It can be an alternative venue for ACMA if they still prefer to stay here because of the numerous entertainment options the city can offer. Perhaps it can buy the city time while figuring out whether to build a larger arena. One thing is for sure as far as I'm concerned, NO PUBLIC MONEY and NO TAX INCREASE to finance this arena.
Nick, country music is universal. I'm African American female and like country music. I would like to think that you're more intelligent than you project...
Oh yes, Sam Boyd Stadium, with the dirt "parking lot" and a cold windy night? That would look just wonderful on national TV.
Amazingly,some of the other comments here are even more out of touch.
Comment removed by moderator. Personal attack.
One must remember that Cowboys Stadium in Arlington is down the block from the Ball Park at Arlington, where the Rangers with competent GM Nolan Ryan are playing in May. The world's largest water park is across the street in Arlington, Hurrican Harbor. A big Six Flags is also next door.
The Mesquite Championship Rodeo is in East Dallas, and Billy Bob's is in Ft. Worth, along with a really neat downtown and some very good authentic Mexican, steak and bar bq restaurants.
The Metroplex has a highly competitive, over the top, top notch radio market, including strong CW radio properties and corporate sponsorship.
Dallas has superior, central USA Airport infrastructure, 18-20 minutes away from Cowboys Stadium on 121-360.
Dallas Ft. Worth, like Vegas, has excellent golf courses.
Dallas IS a convention-events city, though not on the level-capacity of Las Vegas.
Dallas has excellent medical facilities and charitable foundations ongoing.
The Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine was developed by Gaylord Hotels, who own-operate Opryland Resort, home to Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and years ago also owned Opryland USA, TNN, CMT, and Acuff-Rose Publishing,
As such, absent the infrastructure of the Strip Corridor, live gaming, and Cirque du Soleil production shows, Dallas has some unique synergies to explore in hosting this event, beyond additional seating capacity.
AH Shucks! I'm gonna miss them Dollar Tips. That's "Foldin Money".
The Country Music Awards (CMA) wants a change in venue, and Dallas is where they feel they belong with all the extra seats for their one night stand. The CMA is in control of their destiny and it is their prerogative to choose where they wish to have their shows. Las Vegas will miss their presents and will always embrace their desire to return or stay in America's Entertainment Capitol. Their reason for leaving is not the reason for their initially choo-sing LV.
The first shows in LV were brought here because the VIP' wanted to enjoy the effects of the location, not to fill their pockets with added income from ticket sales. This move is more about the Promoters than about the Entertainers. Sure, it can be said that more Fans will be able to participate in the event, but, from where they will be seated and having to see it on the over-head monitor, well, for that money I would be better served to watch it from the pleasures of my own diggs.
Las Vegas thanks the CMA' for all their past patronage and looks forward to any new endeavors which they may choose to bring here to American's Entertainment Capital.
Las Vegas wishes the CMA' the best success, we'll always have an open chair for ya.
"Viva Las Vegas"
Gotta give credit to Jerry Jones for hustling and planting the seeds that the show would be better in his stadium. Now it's time for Vegas to fire back and keep the show here in town.
Stage... Right on!
You goofy HOMERS with your childish "don't let the door hit ya!" comments and attitudes epitomize the Nevada State Motto:
"We can't see the forest for them dang trees!"
Jerry Jones is a very shrewd business-dude, and he will steal more than just the CMA from Las Vegas if he's allowed to.
My guess is that the NFR is headed for BIG D and Jerry's palatial Horsey Barn.
Yee-Ha!!!
Y'all come back now, Y'hear???
Anybody that pays $150 to watch JerryVision, because the musicians will look like ants from the nosebleeds, is a fool.
Whether or not people here are into this particular event isn't important. What is important is that we have a state-of-the-art (should be upgradeable as well) 20,000+ capacity arena to keep and attract events like this. Entertainment is what we do here, and things like this are part of the territory. I would go with the old wet'n'wild site; in addition to location, it would put the spurs to Fountainbleau and Echelon.
That being said, thousands of tickets aren't available for the general public because they're being given to corporate sponsors? Doesn't sound very 'country' does it?
hmmm...some of Dallas is dry also...
Vegas needs a new arena.. That is a fact.
But reading what the CMA is saying, its more about the money and nothing about the guest experiences. Much like many places ont the strip now, its customer be damned, lets get greedy....
Selling Texas Stadium's 80,000 seats to people who can brag they "saw" Toby Keith, will be easy. The CMA wants the $$
The point is that Vegas needs a place to seat 20,000+ people easily and we don't have it.
Build it in the tourist corridor and it will be empty 60 days a year maximum. Too many other events would love to have that kind of space, that close to the Strip and everything it offers.
The Orleans Arena is too far away. Thomas and Mack is too far, not connected to anything entertainment and too small.
Final Note: Too many here forget what makes Vegas tic.. Tourism... You want them to stay, not go... And right now they are going.
Las Vegas is a resort town, not a city like Dallas.
When Lake mead runs dry we can turn it into an amphitheater.
Hate to see the parking lot after the show for 50,000+ people. no thanks.
I won't be watching The C. M. A. anymore
Las Vegas is Las Vegas and will always be just that, a place for people to unwind, play, have fun away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life people want to take a break from. Las Vegas can't be everything for everyone, though its lure still does work in most cases.
First and foremost, Las Vegas is not a single arena, a single hotel, a single casino, or even a single idea of what only one person wants or needs, Las Vegas is as diverse as the people who visit it from far and wide, crossing all social economical lines and yes cowboys too. The folks that visit don't come to visit cowboy land, they don't visit Las Vegas for what they can see on TV, or play on a puter game, they come for the real deal, not that Dallas or any other city is not capable of providing real action, sure they can, but not like "Vegas Baby".
In Vegas the lights are always on and the doors are always open, so when you feel like you need to let some steam-off Vegas will always be there.
"Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas"
Quote:
"Here come the idiots that think building a bigger arena is the solution..."
---------------------------
Uh, no. How about those that KNOW that the current arenas (MGM, Mandalay Bay, Orleans, T&M) wouldn't be that competitive of a venue if it weren't for riding the tailwinds of Las Vegas.
Can anyone compare any of the above named venues to the Staples Center? Nobody could unless they are shortsighted.
If a new arena isn't built just so you sports-hating lemmings can be appeased, so be it. Since I am a free-market advocate, I say any event needs to do what is best for them. If the NFR thinks Cowboys Stadium is best for them, just like the ACMA, then they can go ahead and leave.
If I had a choice between Cowboys Stadium and any of these second-rate arenas, it would be a no-brainer, Jerry's world.
So if remaining competitive is in Vegas' best interest, then a world class arena and stadium is in order.
If not, then let the status quo remain. Vegas has a heck of a potential to be the next New York and Los Angeles, and yet those without the proper mindset are running things around here.
"There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.." - James A. Lovell
You can be against an arena and that's fine it's your prerogative but the bottom line is this is just the tip of the iceberg. I understand it's your tax dollars but when we lose events and not just the CMA people will lose jobs. Having a state of the art arena is part of being a big city. Oklahoma City got an NBA team before Vegas, do you realize what a slap in the face that is to our city? The issue is Jerry Jones is going to start with the CMAs then move to the rodeo, which then turns into Pacquio vs Mayweather and UFC fights. These are all major revenue generators in our city. We also stand to lose the MWC basketball tourney (not to Dallas) to a neutral site ie Energy Solutions Arena in SLC and while we're at why not the preseason NBA game and the PBR. It's ok you can keep your tax dollars, they're gonna do you a lot of good when your unemployed. We've already learned that Vegas isn't recession proof and your foolish to think that the city doesn't stand to lose a little more then the CMAs if a new arena doesn't get built.
MGM needs to stop trying to fight a new arena in vegas, and being so short-sighted. We can't continue to lose events like this and the National Finals Rodeo.
Vegas is not going to bounce back or grow without a new arena. An arena right in the middle of the strip that EVERYONE can use to keep and bring events like the country music awards and get new ones...AND bring a professional sports team to Vegas!
An arena on the strip means more hotel rooms, casino's and businesses filled with more tourists...and thats good for EVERYONE--including MGM.
@logic
The Cowboys will probably feel at home in Sam Boyd and it surroundings and as far as the weather, they are all boozed up. Who are you kidding?? Anyway they can go anywhere they want. I won't miss them at all.
Whether you like the CMA or not,There is a sublimminal message attached here
We,and others are out of vegas,BYE, or to put it another way Vegas is over!
Just not good news for us that still have 5-7 years to stay,just to get house sold for fair value
peace out
Country music sucks, move the event to Nashville where it belongs.