Friday, July 6, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.
It remains to be seen if a sports complex developer will play ball with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Southwest Sports Group specializes in developing sports complexes around the United States and was chosen Thursday by the City Council to develop a 61-acre parcel downtown that Goodman says is key to the city's future.
But although the company's expertise is developing projects with 12,000-seat baseball stadiums as centerpieces, Goodman tagged that idea before it got to first base.
"I'm not interested in a baseball stadium," Goodman said. "I'm interested in high-density residential, a cultural arts center, and an academic medical center.
"If they're not interested in doing the project without baseball in it, then we'll go to our backup."
The second-choice developer, and the proposal which gained much enthusiasm from the City Council when it was presented last month, is an academic medical campus proposed by Held Inc.
Richard Rees, vice president of real estate for Southwest Sports Group, said it's too early to say whether the company would move forward with building a project downtown if it did not include a stadium.
Goodman is adamant about luring a major-league professional NBA or hockey team to Las Vegas. He has also said if an arena is built, it will not be at the taxpayers' expense.
Southwest Sports Group has entered into a 90-day negotiating agreement with the city that will spell out what both parties hope to accomplish in the next six months. The council will vote on the preliminary agreement Oct. 3 and consider a final development agreement Jan. 5, 2002.
At the Jan. 5 meeting the council will decide whether to move forward with the project or shift the package to Held.
A review panel consisting of city officials will also meet July 23 to discuss the hiring of an outside facilitator who would deal with the day-to-day operations on the property.
The council made its decision Thursday after delaying it last month and spending more than two years securing the land and casting a wide net for proposals. At Thursday's meeting there was little comment and the mood was that of seriousness, not excitement.
There were no huddles or cheers from Southwest Sports Group. Representatives appeared reserved and quiet after the announcement was made.
Only four council members made the final decision on which developer to choose. City Councilman Larry Brown and City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald abstained, citing conflict of interests. City Councilman Michael Mack was absent.
When the project was presented to the council last month, Southwest Sports Group proposed a professional baseball park as its centerpiece, with potential locations for a performing arts center, medical center and a park. But now, the group will start with a blank slate and receive direction from the City Council about which projects it wants to see built on the property.
"We are the captain of the ship," Goodman said.
Goodman said one of the reasons for choosing Southwest Sports Group was because of its financial backing and its experience.
Southwest Sports Group is a Dallas-based sports and entertainment company that owns the Texas Rangers, the Dallas Stars and a television station.
The company is working in conjunction with Mandalay Sports Entertainment, which owns the Las Vegas 51s minor-league baseball team and other companies.
Don Logan, general manager of the Las Vegas 51s, said in the next 60 days he hopes to persuade Goodman that a downtown arena can succeed and will be a financial benefit to the surrounding area.
"This is the best option for Las Vegas if it ever wants to become a major-league city," Logan said.
Southwest Sports Group wants to build the arena to relocate the 51s, which currently play at Cashman Field. Logan said Cashman Field, while serving the franchise well, lacks the amenities other stadiums enjoy like suites, cushioned chairs in the entire facility, restaurants, and video replay. Although the team has had low attendance, Logan said more people would flock to a brand-new facility with all the extra fixings.
One option is to build the first phase of a baseball stadium, which could be increased to accommodate a major-league team if the city were to attract one, he said.
Dr. Robert Miller, dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine, said he has met with representatives from Southwest Sports Group and said the company seems receptive to building an academic medical center on its site.
Miller will meet with Southwest Sports Group today. Even without the expertise of Held Inc, which has built 10-acre medical campuses around the United States, Miller said he is confident an academic campus will be built here.
"We will still reach our goals with Southwest," he said. It's possible if Southwest is looking for outside expertise that they could work with Held."
Joseph Diesko, vice president for architecture for HTMB Architects, the firm that will design the 61 acres for Southwest, said the vision would include a transportation center, trails, and green space.
"The idea is if you take the 61 acres and just develop it, you're just going to have an island," Diesko said. "You want this project to be a catalyst for the entire downtown area."
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