Venetian wants to cooperate with LVCVA, suits will be settled

Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 | 10:59 a.m.

A settlement ending the legal dispute between the Venetian hotel-casino and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will be considered by the LVCVA's board of directors Tuesday.

The agreement, which is expected to be endorsed by the board, would end more than two years of acrimony between the owners of the Italian-themed resort developed by Sheldon Adelson and the government-funded agency charged with marketing the city for the resort industry.

The Venetian, which operates the Sands Expo Center, filed one suit in July 1999, and two more in January 2000, against the LVCVA, alleging that the board violated Nevada laws when it financed the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center with $150 million in revenue bonds.

The Venetian's management has contended that the LVCVA has held an unfair competitive advantage over privately held convention centers because it is financed with public funds.

"We've always felt we play an important role in bringing trade shows and conventions to town and with this agreement, it will be easier for us to do this with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority," said David Friedman, general counsel for the Venetian. "By working together, we can help improve the city's position against other locations that Las Vegas has to compete with across the country. I think this will be good for the whole community."

Under the terms of the agreement, both sides will agree to the dismissal of the three lawsuits, two filed in Clark County District Court and the other in U.S. District Court.

The LVCVA agreed to meet at least annually with representatives of the resort industry to discuss convention business in Clark County. The board also agrees that within two years, it will approve a new master plan or update an existing one with the help of nationally recognized and independent outside experts.

The LVCVA also agreed to acknowledge that one of its primary missions is to bring visitors to Clark County and fill hotel and motel rooms. It also will promise to consider marketing proposals from all other Clark County convention properties to attract more business.

In exchange for those commitments -- most of which are already considered part of the LVCVA's mission -- the Venetian is promising to withdraw any support to environmental organizations that may be working to delay the expansion of the new South Hall, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

In another high-profile issue to be considered by the board in its monthly meeting at Cashman Center, the LVCVA will consider a resolution supporting opposition to the use of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository.

The Yucca Mountain proposal is a resolution in agreement to the stances taken by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Nevada Resort Association, which say tourism could be detrimentally impacted if nuclear waste shipments are on highways heading for a disposal facility northwest of Las Vegas.