Arena football headed to town

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002 | 11:05 a.m.

Las Vegas has developed a reputation as a graveyard for minor league sports. But that doesn't seem to stop other franchises from trying.

The Arena Football League, which has failed once before in town, will apparently give it another try this spring.

Daren Libonati, director of the Thomas & Mack Center, on Tuesday night confirmed he is in negotiations to bring an existing Arena Football League team to Las Vegas. The Thomas & Mack has called a new conference for Friday.

"We're excited about the opportunity of possibly bringing an Arena League team here," Libonati said. "No contract has been signed yet. There's been a lot of talk. All the details and information are being finalized now. We hope to have more information in the next day or so."

Sources said the New Jersey Arena League team, now known as the Gladiators, would be relocating to Las Vegas. New Jersey was 9-5 last year, qualifying for the playoffs where it was eliminated by Orlando.

The Gladiators are owned by Jim Ferraro, a Miami trial lawyer. A phone call placed to the team's office in New Jersey was not returned.

New Jersey is coached by Arena League veteran Frank Haege. One player that may be familiar to local fans is Glenn Foley, the former Boston College quarterback who recently signed with New Jersey.

Whether they will be able to create enough local interest in the team to sustain it remains to be seen.

The Las Vegas Sting played a year at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and another at the Thomas & Mack Center before moving to Los Angeles in 1995.

The Sting, coached by former Boston Patriots quarterback Babe Parilli, drew nice crowds to its first few games at the MGM. But as has been the norm for minor league sports in Las Vegas, once the novelty wore off, attendance dipped dramatically.

Unlike many sports entities that have tried to make a go of it in Las Vegas, at least the Arena league has some credibility. It has survived in some shape or form for 16 seasons and this year, several AFL games will be televised by NBC.

In fact, a TV spot touting the Arena league and featuring John Elway aired several times during NBC's prime time schedule on Tuesday night.

Former UNLV standout Hunkie Cooper is one of the league's best players with the Arizona Rattlers. Another ex-Rebel, wide receiver Randy Gatewood, is in his sixth season at Arizona, which also recently signed former UNLV offensive lineman Pete Tramontanas.