Goodman raises hopes for baseball team in LV

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005 | 11:03 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Tuesday he is working on a funding plan for a new baseball stadium he thinks will be welcomed by taxpayers, and added that he hopes to make an announcement within the next month about a Major League Baseball team coming to Las Vegas.

Goodman has been at the forefront of the city's recent efforts to lure a baseball team to Las Vegas -- meeting with numerous consultants and baseball people -- including top officials from the Florida Marlins in early December, and then two weeks later with Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who Goodman said is apparently next in line to own a team and wants to bring a team here.

The mayor said Tuesday that he's been "doing my own homework" on potential stadium funding plans, and the city might not need to go ahead with a planned call for consultants to vie for a job as the city's baseball expert and advisor.

Goodman said the stadium funding plan he is considering would "make everyone happy," but he refused to give any details or even say if any taxpayer dollars are part of that plan.

"As soon as I hear from Major League Baseball I'll have something to say," Goodman said. "I hope to make an announcement within a month."

Last month Washington, D.C., almost lost its deal for the Montreal Expos, which have been renamed the Washington Nationals, when the City Council there balked at the funding plan for its new stadium.

Las Vegas officials had hoped that perhaps by the end of last year the city would have issued a request for proposals from consultants wanting to help bring a major league baseball team here.

But even before Goodman's comments Tuesday, that plan was being changed somewhat because of the mayor's ability to attract the attention of baseball people.

During an interview prior to Goodman making his comments, City Manager Doug Selby said that instead of seeking a consultant to guide and take the lead on nearly every aspect of bringing a team to Las Vegas, the city might instead look to hire a consultant to focus -- maybe exclusively -- on developing a funding plan for a new baseball stadium.

"I think we've figured out how to attract a team. ... And there appears to be a substantial amount of interest in Las Vegas, but that might hinge on a stadium," Selby said

Selby said a new stadium "is the key element to really securing a team." He added that the city may need an expert to help develop a funding plan, explain what concessions the city should expect to give and receive, and negotiate a stadium deal with a prospective team owner.

But Selby said a final decision on whether the city even tries to hire a consultant at all hasn't been made. He added that the mayor would be consulted before such a decision is made.

"Maybe we don't need one or its scope would be even more refined," Selby said about a request for a consultant.