Centennial committee to rule on sponsorship deal

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 | 10:41 a.m.

The Las Vegas Centennial Celebration Executive Committee will meet at 1 p.m. Monday to determine whether to give the entertainment company responsible for securing sponsors 60 days to close deals or terminate its contract.

Clear Channel Entertainment, the company selected by the centennial committee to bring in $2 million in sponsorships to pay for the yearlong festivities, missed a June 30 deadline for securing sponsorships.

The centennial committee met Monday to discuss options, including whether to seek sponsorship from major corporations that Clear Channel has not approached.

Clear Channel was not present at that meeting but the board has insisted that the company attend next Monday's meeting, Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese, a member of the committee, said.

He said the two items that will be posted on Monday's agenda will be to discuss options that include giving Clear Channel 60 days to come up with either the sponsorship or the actual funding, or "terminate the agreement" with Clear Channel.

"There are mixed feelings among board members," Reese said. "I'd hate to see us waste another 60 days. There is concern because that will put us into September, just three months away from the start" of festivities.