Ball is rolling as council selects Centennial promoter

Sito Negron

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003 | 9:11 a.m.

Clear Channel was hired Wednesday to help throw the valley's biggest party ever, the Las Vegas Centennial Celebration set for 2005.

"This is a very momentous occasion for the (City) Council," gushed Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who mentioned the company's international reach and its affiliation with such events as the Super Bowl halftime show.

"They have all the contacts we need with the major companies we need. This is going to galvanize the Las Vegas we know today," Goodman said. "Let's make it the greatest show on Earth."

Bruce Eskowitz, president of Clear Channel's national sales and marketing division, said his company is the largest producer of live entertainment in the world, with 29,000 events selling 65 million tickets a year.

The Clear Channel contract calls for the company to seek national level corporate sponsorship from such advertisers as beer, auto and soft drink companies. In exchange, Clear Channel will take 20 percent of the gross, give 20 percent to the Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial, and use the rest to produce events.

In addition to a percentage of the sponsorship revenue, Clear Channel also will receive 25 percent of the gross receipts from merchandise sales and will receive fees for such work as production television programming and events.

Goodman said he hopes the deal brings the city millions of dollars for the party. While Centennial organizers have said they hoped for millions from the deal, the numbers won't be nailed until marketing experts review public assets, primarily space that can be sold to advertisers.

The contract has a series of 90-day performance measures built in, with the first coming at the end of year. By then, the review of such places as the Las Vegas Convention Center, McCarran International Airport, lamp posts and other high-visibility areas is to be completed.

Goodman touted the valley's assets, calling its entertainment, dining, shopping and hotels the best in the world. He said the party project involves hotels, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the Clark County School District.

"It's not just the city, it's the whole valley."

Stacy Allsbrook, Centennial project manager, said the scope of the party involves two target audiences -- the 1.5 million residents of the valley and the 35 million annual visitors.