Padres bosses check arena location

Erin Neff

Friday, Aug. 6, 1999 | 10:55 a.m.

Their minor league team is already in town, but San Diego Padres executives came to Las Vegas last weekend to take in more than a Stars game.

Padres Chairman John Moores and President-CEO Larry Lucchino toured the vacant land adjacent to downtown eyed by city officials as the perfect site for an indoor sports arena and/or performing arts center.

Mayor Oscar Goodman and City Manager Virginia Valentine took Moores, Lucchino and the Padres chief financial officer on a complete tour of the 61-acre site owned by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

The two-hour tour came immediately on the heels of a city visit to San Diego to discuss the Padres' new ballpark -- set to open in 2002 -- and learn from a Southern California town's example.

But the return trip also involved some interest by Moores and Lucchino in Las Vegas.

"We discussed the potential with them getting involved," Goodman said.

In fact, Goodman said, he will likely bring the Padres executives with him to meet NBA Commissioner David Stern to find out first hand if Las Vegas has any shot at a professional basketball franchise.

But Goodman warned that the Padres executives are "not even close to a commitment" in Las Vegas.

"Everybody realizes that until the NBA agrees to come, we don't have anything," Goodman said. "But (Moore and Lucchino) are interested about the potential."

An ad hoc 29-member committee led by co-chairmen Goodman and County Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury is exploring the feasibility of a downtown sports arena and performing arts center.

The committee was created after Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn announced that a poll he had commissioned showed that Las Vegas residents would support both professional sports and Broadway-caliber entertainment.

Although city officials have discussed possible sports arenas downtown for years, they have not been able to build consensus with the county and gaming officials to support such an endeavor.

Texas entrepreneur Paul Tanner failed in his lofty bid to build a domed stadium on the 61-acre site. Lehman Brothers purchased the property last year after Tanner filed for bankruptcy.

The land is believed to be worth $60 million. Lehman is interested in selling the site but also is considering partnering with a developer for possible naming rights on an arena.

When Wynn announced he had explored an arena and even met with Stern about an NBA team, developers and team owners alike began keeping a closer eye on Las Vegas, according to City Centre Development Corp. President Mike Forche.

"Lehman has talked to half a dozen (NBA) team owners," Forche said. "We're on the cusp of being a major league town, and we're also likely to be the selection of a team that wants to move.

"They see this thing going from talk to community support and Wynn's involvement," Forche said. "There are team owners who feel like this thing's starting to get some legs."

Goodman also said he had received a call from another developer interested in an arena proposal. He plans to talk soon with that developer but said he could not reveal his name.

Talk has also surfaced about the possible involvement of former pro stars Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan in a Las Vegas arena or basketball team.

Johnson already owns land in West Las Vegas and is planning movie theaters for the site.