Columnist Steve Carp: Everyone benefits from NFR deal

Steve Carp

Thursday, March 26, 1998 | 9:55 a.m.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE to be a rodeo fan to celebrate the news Tuesday that Las Vegas will remain the home of the National Finals Rodeo through 2007.

The sport's faithful weren't the only ones to benefit from the increased purses and added exposure which comes from its annual 10-day run in Las Vegas. The city's sports fans and UNLV in particular were winners with the announcement the 10-year extension between the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Las Vegas Events was a done deal.

Because of the NFR's commitment to Las Vegas, UNLV will get a remodeled football stadium, an upgraded Thomas & Mack Center and, likely, a practice facility for basketball.

It goes without saying the residual benefits to the city's tourism and gaming industries will be enhanced. The NFR has long filled the void prior to Christmas and it has become part of Las Vegas tradition, much like New Year's Eve and Super Bowl weekend.

But let's get back to the sporting equation. Without the rodeo staying here, it's doubtful Sam Boyd Stadium would get that badly needed face lift and the Thomas & Mack wouldn't have been upgraded, other than the infrastructure improvements that the state legislature had approved.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is a partner in this, as it should be, in that several of the events that are held in the two facilities are LVCVA driven. The Las Vegas Bowl, the Las Vegas Shootout and, of course, the NFR, are all cooperative ventures with the LVCVA.

And as it was said here a couple of months ago when the proposal of the LVCVA to kick in hard dollars toward capital improvements was first discussed, it was and remains the right thing to do.

UNLV couldn't foot the bill itself, and frankly, it shouldn't have to. It's a shining example of how by working together, this city can accomplish great things where everyone benefits.

That $32 million being put toward the stadium and Thomas & Mack will not be wasted money. If you go to a concert at the stadium or an ice show at the T&M, you'll reap the benefits of a modern facility.

If you're a UNLV fan, not only will you enjoy those same benefits, you'll likely see a better product as the coaches will have another recruiting tool. That's especially true in football, where a new grass field will be in place by 1999 as well as state-of-the-art amenities such as a new locker room, press box and luxury suites.

Five million dollars may not seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things. But it's the LVCVA's gesture, not the actual dollar amount, that makes this an important time for the city.

One day, we're going to try to have major league team sports here to go along with the major league golf, boxing and auto racing events that already call Las Vegas home. And it's going to mean more cooperative ventures such as the one between UNLV and the LVCVA, only on a much grander scale.

But this is a start. And when you see the results a year from now, you're going to ask yourself, "Why didn't they do it sooner?"