Cuban, Maloof support Vegas bid

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had a brief response to a Monday inquiry about the NBA exploring Las Vegas as a potential site for its 2007 All-Star Game.

"Love it," Cuban wrote in an e-mail.

George Maloof, who runs the Palms and whose family owns the Sacramento Kings, said he expects a decision "soon" from NBA commissioner David Stern.

"It's going to happen pretty quickly," Maloof said. "I think there is just a tremendous amount of support, locally, with people who want to make it happen. It's a great event and I think it's perfect for Las Vegas.

"It would be great for the league, I think, to showcase the game here."

Cuban will be the keynote speaker Wednesday at a technology session of a National Association of Broadcasters gala at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

One of the more accessible owners of a major sports franchise, Cuban, who made his fortune by selling an Internet company he had founded and is involved in the development of high-definition television technology, often answers reporters' questions via e-mail.

Monday afternoon, Cuban said an All-Star Game in Las Vegas, despite the fact that it has neither an NBA team nor any other major sports franchise, would be very successful for the city and the league.

"No question about it," he said.

Officials from the NBA and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority confirmed they visited the convention center, the Thomas & Mack Center, Mandalay Bay Convention Center and the Sands Expo Center last Thursday.

Maloof said he has met with LVCVA president Rossi Ralenkotter, who will ultimately make a bid for the game, and inspected the Mack with NBA officials whom he declined to name.

The Utah Jazz have used the arena for regular-season games, and the Los Angeles Lakers have played preseason and playoff games in the Mack.

Maloof said he first heard of an attempt to land the '07 All-Star Game, and the weekend of hoops-related festivities that surround it, less than three weeks ago.

"It's coming together fast," he said. "We'll see if we can get the support of the town. I believe we already have. It's just a great event."

Cuban said he has not been asked for any input. He also agreed that NBA commissioner David Stern has often spoken harshly of Las Vegas as a potential suitor for an NBA team, because sports gambling is legal in Nevada.

However, Cuban believes Major League Baseball's exploration last year of Las Vegas as a possible home for the Montreal Expos, who were moved to Washington, D.C., might have dispelled some myths about Vegas and its gambling image.

MLB commissioner Bud Selig cited the Gaming Control Board's policing and regulating of Nevada casinos' sports books, and the widespread growth of gambling, from Indian reservations to river boats, as reasons why an MLB team in Vegas could be plausible.

"MLB (has led) the way," Cuban said, "which will make it easier for the NBA."

NBA spokesman Tim Frank told the Associated Press last week that the casinos would have to agree not to take bets on the All-Star Game as a precursor to the city being awarded the event, and Mayor Oscar Goodman said owners of major casinos have told him they would agree to that stipulation.

"There was no hesitancy on their part," Goodman told the AP, "to take the game off the books."

Asked about the odds in Vegas landing the All-Star Game, Cuban said he's not a betting man. He offered more insight when asked if -- and if so, when -- Vegas would have an NBA franchise.

"Yes," Cuban said. "Sooner than people probably think."