Arena study committee to hire consultant

Erin Neff

Thursday, July 29, 1999 | 11:01 a.m.

A sprawling committee packed with political power and a broad-based sampling of gaming interests agreed Wednesday they need additional help to determine the feasibility of a sports arena or performing arts center.

"Are we going to need professional consulting help?" asked Clark County Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury who co-chairs the ad hoc arena study committee. "I think the answer is yes."

Already armed with two studies suggesting Las Vegas is ready for professional sports and Broadway-caliber performances, the 30-some members of the committee still seemed daunted by the question of financing such a project.

"We need to more clearly delineate how the public feels about taxation," said former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones.

Clearly, raising property taxes is a dangerous political move and increasing room or slot taxes to fund an arena could affect the casino industry. The committee admitted Wednesday that it faces such tough decisions but reserved examination of those issues for a future meeting.

Las Vegas City Manager Virginia Valentine agreed the committee needs a professional consultant to examine the financial means of funding what could end up to be a $150 million to $200 million project.

"We wouldn't want this project to get caught up in the halo effect that this is good for Las Vegas without examining the costs," Valentine said during the committee's introductory meeting held at the Mirage hotel-casino.

City Centre Development Corp. President Mike Forche said he has received unsolicited proposals from consultants who would perform financial studies of funding options for about $40,000.

National pollster Frank Luntz, who conducted a study last month for Mirage Resorts Inc., reiterated his findings that Las Vegans say they support both a sports arena and a performing arts center.

But, he added, younger people and men favor the sports arena, while women and older residents favor a performing arts center.

"Those who would go to the sports arena are exactly the opposite of those who would go to the performing arts center," Luntz said.

Rossi Ralenkotter of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced Wednesday that a poll of tourists commissioned by the LVCVA also found "good" numbers to support an arena.

Of those questioned, 22 percent said they would make attending an NBA game their prime reason for visiting Las Vegas. Nine percent said attending a professional hockey game would be prime cause to come to town.

"Those numbers right now are strong," Ralenkotter said.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who also co-chairs the committee, met with San Diego Padres officials Tuesday to learn about their new stadium plans. He said it is vital that both he and Woodbury meet with NBA Commissioner David Stern to determine whether Las Vegas could get a basketball franchise.

Goodman asked Elaine Wynn -- wife of Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn -- to ask her husband to set up such a meeting between Stern, Goodman and Woodbury.

Steve Wynn, who had previously met with Stern about his interest in an NBA franchise, was out of town Wednesday and did not attend the arena study committee meeting.

The committee also learned Wednesday that the prime spot to build such an arena is on the market.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. has placed for sale 61.5 acres of land it owns immediately adjacent to downtown and the Spaghetti Bowl. That land was purchased by the New York-based financial institution's land management division a year ago.