Goodman wants answers on hockey team’s future

Diana Sahagun

Friday, June 28, 2002 | 9:51 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman planned to ask some "tough questions" of the owner of the Las Vegas Wranglers on Thursday during a meeting to discuss a proposed downtown arena, but he has yet to hear from the man himself.

Charles Davenport, owner of the minor-league hockey team, did not attend the afternoon meeting of Las Vegas Event Center Inc., whose board members include officials from the Fremont Street Experience, Boyd Gaming Inc. and Goodman.

Goodman said he thought Davenport would be at the meeting, but apparently the minor-league hockey owner was not invited.

Goodman had said earlier in the day that he wanted to know how committed Davenport was to the project, after news reports surfaced that the team owner was looking at other options for a home for his team.

Without a 100 percent commitment from Davenport, Goodman said he would be "less enthusiastic" about the project proposed at Stewart Avenue and Main Street.

Goodman said this morning that Davenport is scheduled to meet with city officials for several days next month to discuss the proposed partnership.

Although he did not hear directly from Davenport, Goodman said he was reassured by Fremont Street Experience President Mark Paris and the proposed developer, Larry Leasure, that while Davenport may be looking at other options, the downtown arena is his "first choice."

Davenport said earlier this week that he is looking at other options, including a new arena under construction at The Orleans, because he is not confident the downtown arena will be built in time for the 2003-04 season.

Goodman, though, said the project is moving forward, with an opening planned for October 2003.

Lesa Coder, the city's business development director who also attended the meeting, said the arena is moving forward and will be a viable project.

"Hockey is a preferred use, as one of the major anchors," she said. "If for example any one of the major users -- whether that's hockey or any one of the other uses -- were not to come to fruition, we would look for another major user.

"I wouldn't say any one component will make or break the project."