Goodman pitches Grizzlies plan to gamers

Thursday, March 15, 2001 | 10:45 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman met Wednesday with the board of the Nevada Resort Association in an attempt to win the support of the organization for his efforts to attract the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies to Las Vegas.

NRA President Bill Bible confirmed that Goodman discussed the Grizzlies with the NRA board, and said the organization's members "took it under advisement." He declined further comment.

A spokesman for Goodman said the mayor would discuss the meeting at his weekly press conference this afternoon.

Goodman is attempting to get the gaming industry to support a measure that would prohibit Nevada sports books from taking wagers on a Las Vegas NBA team, which he believes will be enough to convince the NBA to permit a team to move here. Previously, Bible has expressed concerns about this proposal, saying it could damage the state's efforts to fight off a federal ban on wagering on college sports events.

Goodman also met with Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Brian Sandoval to discuss the proposal last week. Sandoval described his meeting with Goodman as "very friendly," and said he'd like to work with Goodman to help Las Vegas land an NBA franchise. But Sandoval said he isn't willing to implement the ban the mayor is requesting.

"If there's another alternative, I'd like to find it," Sandoval said. "I've been trying to think of one, but short of doing what he requested, I haven't come up with anything yet."