Idaho developer has high hopes for downtown arena

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, March 28, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

Idaho developer Larry Leasure is moving ahead with plans for an arena that is expected to draw nearly 175,000 new visitors to downtown Las Vegas by fall 2003.

Leasure presented his plans Wednesday to a group of downtown experts -- the City Centre Development Corp. -- who expressed enthusiasm that the project could rejuvenate Las Vegas' downtown the way a similar project has revitalized downtown Boise, Idaho.

In Boise, the success of Leasure's arena -- the Bank of America Center -- has spilled into the surrounding downtown, where 35 new restaurants have opened. More than 150,000 people visit the arena on a yearly basis, he said.

"I think it's going to be a positive," said Nick Niarchos, chairman of the City Centre.

Leasure said he is finishing the arena's design and expects to break ground in September. He called it an "ambitious" timeline, because the project will take one year to complete and must be ready to house the Las Vegas Wranglers of the West Coast Hockey League by October 2003.

The arena is one piece of a major redevelopment effort being led by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who is attempting to breathe new life into downtown by encouraging new projects and investments.

The 6,500-seat arena will be built on a 3-acre parcel owned by Boyd Gaming Corp., at the corner of Main Street and Stewart Avenue. Boyd Gaming will turn the land over to a nonprofit corporation -- of which Goodman, Boyd President Don Snyder and Fremont Street Experience President Mark Paris are members -- in return for the elimination of a commitment to build a parking garage on the site.

Leasure had previously proposed the arena at 7,500 seats, but reduced the size in order to make it a more "intimate setting," he said Wednesday.

The arena will include 40 luxury suites.

Leasure estimated that the arena will generate 40 full-time jobs and 350 to 400 part-time positions.