Planners OK arena downtown

Friday, July 12, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

Boyd Gaming Corp. received a green light from the Las Vegas Planning Commission late Thursday to develop a 6,500-seat arena in downtown Las Vegas, putting the future of the project in the hands of the City Council next month.

The commissioners unanimously approved the design for the arena, proposed as a metallic, cobalt-blue exterior that the architect said was chosen because for its contemporary "attention-getting look." Boyd Gaming also received approval of a special use permit for the project.

The council is scheduled to consider the arena at its Aug. 21 meeting. Developers say ground will be broken shortly thereafter, with an opening in the fall of 2003.

The developers need to have the arena open by the fall season in order to secure its anchor tenant, a minor league hockey team known as the Las Vegas Wranglers, owned by Charles Davenport.

Davenport said last month he is exploring other options for his team because he was concerned that the arena would not be built in time for the 2003 season. The Orleans in February broke ground on a 7,500-seat arena designed to house minor league hockey.