Big-league stadium could find a home on city’s 61 acres

Dan Kulin

Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 | 9:04 a.m.

One version of preliminary development plans for the Las Vegas-owned 61 acres downtown includes a baseball stadium, Mayor Oscar Goodman said Sunday.

The mayor also said he is open to the idea of building a stadium for minor-league baseball, but only if he was assured the stadium would eventually be used for major league baseball.

The City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on an exclusive negotiating with The Related Cos. to develop a land use and financial plan for the 61 acres, which is the former Union Pacific rail yards. The city has named the development to come Union Park.

The private company did a commercial and residential redevelopment project in West Palm Beach, Fla., that could serve as a model for the Las Vegas project. But so far the company has not publicly released any preliminary development plans.

Goodman said one of the three versions of plans Related officials are working on for the city-owned property includes land for a baseball stadium on the 61 acres.

Goodman is trying to lure a major-league franchise to Las Vegas, and has been adamant in insisting a stadium would have to go downtown for the city to participate in bringing a team here.

Other locations Goodman has mentioned include property adjacent to the 61 acres, which he said is owned by Related, and Cashman Field.

The mayor said that while at the Major League Baseball winter meetings Saturday in Anaheim, Calif., he met with officials from Mandalay Sports Entertainment Group, which owns of the 51s, and spoke about his hope to bring a major-league team to Las Vegas.

The mayor and 51s officials also agreed to further discuss the possibility of building a new stadium for minor league baseball.

Goodman has long opposed building a new stadium for minor league baseball, saying his sights were set on a major-league team.

But Sunday, the mayor said he will discuss backing a new stadium for the 51s "so long as major league baseball is in its future use."

Goodman said he doesn't know exactly how that could be ensured.

In May, 51s president and general manager Don Logan suggested building a new ballpark for the 51s with an eye toward expanding it. He said a new minor-league stadium would be "phase one" of a major-league park.

How the city would participate in the construction of a new stadium is unclear, although Las Vegas City Councilman said a successful plan would undoubtedly require some public funds.