Higher rents proposed at Cashman Stadium, Convention Center

Wednesday, June 10, 1998 | 3:59 a.m.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority's Board Tuesday postponed action on a staff request to raise the rent on convention customers at the authority's two facilities, citing concerns of community groups.

The proposal would increase annual revenues from the Las Vegas Convention Center by $3 million to $4 million -- about 25 percent of the center's $12 million to $14 million in annual revenue. Revenue from the LVCVA's Cashman Field convention space would increase from $1 million to $1.5 million, according to Thomas Smith, vice president of facilities for the LVCVA.

At the convention center, exhibit hall rents for trade shows would generally increase from 15 cents to 20 cents per square foot daily. For trade shows, meeting room rents would increase from $105 to $250 per day. For public events, exhibit hall rents would increase from 5 cents to 20 cents per square foot; minimum rates for the use of an exhibit hall would increase from $1,500 to $4,500.

The Cashman Stadium rental rate would increase from $2,250 to $3,000 per day; the cost of renting the Cashman Theatre would rise from $1,500 to $2,000 daily.

Board Member Mary Kincaid was concerned the increases would price the Authority's convention facilities out of the range of non-profit and community groups.

"I don't think you can go and pass these huge increases all at once," Kincaid said.

Smith noted that even with the increase, the center's rent would be far below that of other western cities.

"We're probably the lowest," Smith said.

But the board approved Kincaid's motion to postpone the proposal until its impact on non-profit and community groups can be studied.