Editorial: Arena issue deserves a fair look

Friday, July 30, 1999 | 10:30 a.m.

Now that a committee of elected officials and businessmen has begun to explore the feasibility of building a professional sports arena in Las Vegas, they must be given the opportunity to do a thorough job. The public will want to be kept fully informed of all progress. Time is also needed to contact other cities that either have arenas or are in the process of building them.

If the committee believes we should have an arena, the public will want to know who will pay for the facility and where the money will come from.

The public is bound to be curious about the financing of an arena even if taxes do not have to be raised. That is because the majority of privately financed arenas in the United States still have required public funds to extend roads and sewer lines to the building.

If tax increases are to be considered, it is important that everyone has a chance to be heard. That means not only wealthy and powerful gaming interests but groups such as the Nevada Taxpayers Association and organizations that represent senior citizens.

The committee should not waste time on potential funding sources that have no chance of public approval. As Sun reporter Erin Neff noted, any effort to raise property taxes would be a dangerous political move. Other taxes also have their pitfalls. Sales tax increases can hurt people on fixed incomes. If hotel room taxes are too high, tourists and convention business will go elsewhere. The committee will have its hands full pleasing everyone.

In addition to hiring consultants, members of the committee could benefit by doing much of their own legwork. This can be done by visiting other cities that have arena experience. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, committee co-chairman, got off to a good start by meeting with San Diego Padres officials to learn about their new baseball stadium plans.

The committee will learn that some sports facility experiences have been positive while others have been disastrous. Phoenix, Ariz., did something right by building the America West Arena, which helped to revitalize that city's downtown and has drawn raves from players and fans. But San Antonio, Texas, did something wrong by spending sales tax revenues to build the disappointing Alamodome, which is too cavernous for the NBA Spurs and not good enough to lure an NFL team as hoped.

Voters in cities from San Francisco to Birmingham, Ala., have grappled with ballot referendums on sports facilities with mixed results. The committee could learn why some of those ballot measures passed and others failed. Those lessons could prove valuable.