Goodman, Expos see little more than rumors behind LV move

Friday, Sept. 13, 2002 | 9:42 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman hopes that by the time he leaves office, a major league sports team will be established in Las Vegas.

But at his weekly news conference Thursday, he did not sound very confident that the newest player in the rumor mill -- Major League Baseball's Montreal Expos -- would be moving here.

He also did not sound confident that a proposed stadium would even be built on the vacant land west of downtown.

Goodman said he received a call from a representative identifying himself as Mark Ganis exploring the possibility of Las Vegas' interest in the Expos. Goodman said Las Vegas would be interested.

But Goodman, noting that he has been burned in past efforts to bring a pro team to Las Vegas, quickly added that he did not want to be "used as a pawn" for the Expos to wrangle a new stadium or other considerations to stay in Montreal.

Matt Charbonneau, spokesman for the Expos said today he is not aware of anyone named Mark Ganis working for the Expos and that there has been no official word about a move anywhere by the club.

"There has been all sorts of speculation, but unless we are told otherwise by Major League Baseball we will continue to operate in Montreal," he said.

Charbonneau said the most prominent cities to come out of the rumor mill regarding a potential move have been Portland, Ore., Washington, D.C., Charlotte, N.C., and Las Vegas. But he cautions that is just speculation by fans, news media and others.

As for the stadium that developer Southwest Sports wants to build on the former railroad land, Goodman repeated that he would not support a plan that calls for the city to use tax dollars or city bonds.

"I'd really love to have that arena, but I will not put the taxpayers at risk," Goodman said, noting that finances "are not even close to being resolved."

Goodman did offer a ray of hope, noting discussions "are still open" but that there are "several giant hurdles to overcome."