Boyd Stadium could be soccer venue if L.A. lands Olympics

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000 | 10:30 a.m.

If Los Angeles wins its bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, Las Vegas may benefit as well.

The Olympic committee in Los Angeles announced its intentions to bid for the games on Tuesday.

It has already contacted Pat Christenson, director of the Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium, to see if he would be interested in holding some soccer games at Sam Boyd.

"We have worked out an intent to have it at Sam Boyd," Christenson said. "If they're awarded it, they would have Sam Boyd Stadium for some soccer.

"I think it would be great to have an Olympic competition here in Las Vegas in conjunction to what's going on in L.A. It's a natural in terms of transportation back and forth from L.A."

The deadline to submit bids to the United States Olympic Committee is Dec. 15. The Los Angeles Times reported that seven other U.S. cities are expected to make bids -- and at least that many cities around the world are expected to do the same.

The 2004 Summer Games will be held in Athens and the 2008 Olympics will be awarded in 2001. The 2012 Olympics will be awarded in 2005.

Christenson said no details have been worked out including how many games would be played here.

"It really is just an intent to work with them," he said. "They just wanted to know whether we were interested in participating and that was yes.

"There's no timetable as to when something will happen. We're excited just to be considered."