Mr. Mayor meets with Mr. October

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004 | 10:56 a.m.

Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman are men with a common goal -- they are both committed to bringing Major League Baseball to Las Vegas, the mayor said after meeting with Jackson for about 90 minutes Monday.

The mayor and Jackson met Monday for their first time to discuss their hopes for baseball in Las Vegas.

"I told him basically that our positions are aligned," the mayor said.

"He did not mention a specific team. He indicated he was next in line for a team," Goodman said about Jackson, who has put together a group of investors to try and buy a baseball franchise. "He said if he's involved with a team it'll be in Las Vegas."

They did not discuss any financial or stadium issues, Goodman said.

"He said if he's going to be successful he needs the city to be part of the team," Goodman said, adding that Jackson did not elaborate. "I said, 'If you need me give me a call.' "

Jackson's business partner Brian Shapiro said Jackson was not available to comment, but said the mayor's assessment that their interests are aligned was accurate. He would not elaborate or give any additional comments about the meeting.

Goodman and Jackson were joined for the lunch meeting by Martin Burger, executive vice president of The Related Cos., and president of Related Las Vegas, the company working on development plans for the downtown city-owned 61 acres. Goodman has listed the 61 acres, which are former Union Pacific rail yards, and adjacent property Related owns as possible spots for a stadium, and Burger said one of the potential development plans for the 61 acres includes a spot for a stadium.

Burger said Related is "not interested in privately financing a major-league stadium" at any level.

As far as being a potential player in Jackson's ownership group, Burger said that was possible but added, "we are a land development company not franchise owners. ...

"Our interest is in seeing the 61 acres developed. Whether that means we become an insignificant part of Mr. Jackson's ownership group remains to be seen."

Burger said he was at the lunch meeting to introduce Jackson and the mayor, and " that was the extent of it."

The Monday meeting was the latest in a series of baseball-related conversations and meetings for the mayor, who has attracted nationwide attention in recent weeks for his efforts to lure baseball to Las Vegas.

Goodman met with top representatives from the Florida Marlins baseball team almost two weeks ago, and then went to baseball's winter meetings in Anaheim, Calif., a few days later, where he had discussions with top baseball executives.

Also, Goodman has been fielding calls from consultants who he says want to help bring a major league team to Las Vegas.

Goodman said his "gut sense" is that Jackson's group has the financial backing to buy a team. He would not say who the other parties in Jackson's group are, and neither have Jackson or Shapiro.

But Goodman said even with Jackson's interest, "Do I stop talking to other people? Absolutely not. Certainly I'm going to explore all options."

The city is preparing to release a public request for proposals from potential consultants who would help the city develop a stadium funding plan, and advise the city on other matters related to building a stadium and attracting a franchise.

Earlier this year, a private group tried to bring the Montreal Expos to a site just off the Strip. But that effort was unsuccessful, and earlier this year Major League Baseball announced the team would move to Washington, D.C., where it has been renamed the Nationals.

However, the Washington plan hit a snag earlier this month when the City Council there approved legislation to require significant private financing for a stadium that was originally planned to be publicly financed.

The potential deal-breaking problems in Washington has led to speculation that cities such as Las Vegas would get another shot at the franchise, which is owned by Major League Baseball.

Before a deal was brokered late Monday night to keep the team in the nation's capital, Goodman said he was ready to make a play for the team because it would have been the only team immediately available.