Wednesday, July 13, 2005 | 9:46 a.m.
Now, the ball officially is in the National Basketball Association's court.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Tuesday unanimously approved submitting a bid to the professional basketball league to host the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.
NBA officials are expected to make a decision on the proposal within a few weeks.
Board members brushed off a concern that the game wouldn't produce enough bang for the buck and agreed to spend $4.5 million to bring one of the league's showcase events to a non-NBA city for the first time in its history. The LVCVA expects to recoup $1.6 million of the costs from various revenue sources associated with the game and its various related activities.
LVCVA President and Chief Executive Rossi Ralenkotter said game would attract an estimated 25,000 out-of-town visitors producing a $27 million non-gaming impact for the city.
Some critics of the bid have said the game itself caters to the rich, since premium tickets will cost $600 apiece. Even the five-day NBA Jam Session, an interactive experience for fans resembling a basketball theme park, would have a $40 apiece price tag.
Ralenkotter said a full analysis had not been completed on the value of the media exposure for the city that would be generated by hosting the game. But the 2004 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles produced 475 million media impressions on television, in print media and on the Internet.
LVCVA board member Yvonne Atkinson Gates, a Clark County commissioner, questioned whether the amount the LVCVA would pay to bring the game to Las Vegas would be worth the money, especially since the game would be played in the middle of a three-day holiday weekend when the city traditionally fills up with tourists seeking a midwinter escape.
But Ralenkotter noted that the media exposure alone could be one of the most valuable components of hosting the game, since the contest would be aired on ESPN and TNT in 212 countries in 41 languages and is expected to be seen by more than 3.1 million people worldwide.
The game would be played at the Thomas & Mack Center Feb. 18, a Sunday, but a variety of other activities would occur in the days leading up to the game. The party would include the Jam Session and several special games and competitions.
The Jam Session would include autograph opportunities and player appearances, basketball-related activities for children, "slam dunk courts" and NBA merchandise for sale.
The week also would include the Rookie Challenge -- a game pitting rookie stars against second-year players in the league -- and the NBA Celebrity Game. Both are televised nationally.
There's also a Shooting Stars Competition, Skill Challenge, 3-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest that also are televised nationwide.
If Las Vegas succeeds in securing the game, LVCVA officials said they would attend the 2006 All-Star Game in Houston to generate enthusiasm for the following year.
Ralenkotter said it was unclear how long it would take for the NBA to reach a decision on where the game would be played, but he said he expected an announcement within a few weeks.
NBA officials have not announced what other cities have submitted bids for the 2007 game, but various media reports have indicated that Toronto, New Orleans and Memphis, Tenn., have expressed interest. All of those cities are home to NBA franchises.
Among the crowd at Tuesday's LVCVA meeting were Myles Pistorius, assistant general counsel for NBA Entertainment, and George Maloof, who owns the Palms and whose family owns the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise. Maloof is widely credited with generating support to bring the game to Las Vegas and galvanized other casino operators behind taking the game off the boards in the state's sports books if it is played in Las Vegas.
Gaming regulators have approved banning wagering on the game, a move that isn't expected to put a big dent in gaming revenue since all-star contests rarely generate much betting action.
"I'm tickled pink that we've reached this point," said Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who chairs the LVCVA board and has been a leading advocate in the city's bid to attract a major-league sports franchise to the city.
In other business Tuesday, the LVCVA board extended its annual contract for a suite rental at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for $70,660. The suite is used to entertain clients attending race events at the speedway.
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