Buses promote city’s centennial

Sito Negron

Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and other Centennial planners rolled into the Fremont Street Experience Thursday to the thundering sounds of the Olympic theme music, riding a new promotion for the "world's biggest party" -- a bus decorated with pictures and slogans.

"Where are the showgirls?" exclaimed Goodman after exiting the bus, which carried the slogan "100 Years Old Is No Time To Act Our Age" on one side and the neon cowgirl some have dubbed Vegas Vicki and the words "My Secret to Looking Young? Great Lighting" on the other.

Among the announcements of the day were the bus "wraps," the slogans and colorful images promoting the centennial. Regional Transportation Commission Chairman Jacob Snow said 100 buses will feature the wraps.

Goodman, pointing to the bus he rode in on, said that "Jacob has promised me the next 99 will have my likeness."

A moment later, speaking from the podium, Snow clarified the remark.

"We don't want to scare the small children," he joked about the mayor's mug.

Snow went on to say that the wrapped buses will be a solid contribution to the community centennial.

"What a terrific moving billboard the coaches will be," Snow said.

The RTC is allowing the centennial planners to use the buses for $720,000 for six months, which is 30 percent of the normal cost to wrap ads around the vehicles, said RTC spokeswoman Ingrid Reisman.

Another element of the centennial announced Thursday is a program to get local businesses involved in the year of events.

Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Kara Kelley said her organization has nearly 7,000 members in the Las Vegas Valley. Those members will be asked to join the "Community Pride" initiative, with four ways to get involved:

"So the celebration is throughout the community," Kelley said.

Don Snyder, president of Boyd Gaming, took a line from Goodman as he mentioned the possible contributions the city's casino industry could make.

For example, he said the Sam's Town 300 auto race in March will have a centennial tie-in, and he said the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority pledged $1 million for a centennial ad campaign.

In the future, Snyder said, hotels will offer centennial room packages, and "create natural tie-ins in our case, with our 11 properties."

"Stay tuned -- we'll have a lot of things rolling out in the weeks and months ahead," Snyder said.