Letter: Las Vegas needs world-class soccer stadium

Friday, April 6, 2007 | 7:15 a.m.

In regard to Las Vegas possibly co-hosting the 2016 Olympics:

I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the city to really shine internationally. Nothing like this has impacted the city on such a scale since Las Vegas hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup soccer draw.

But my concern is why are Las Vegas' political leaders even considering having such an important Olympic event as international-level soccer at Sam Boyd Stadium? Are you kidding?

Sam Boyd Stadium is barely capable of holding a decent football game. That stadium is old and tired. Besides, the field is not wide enough.

Las Vegas needs to stop thinking so small and so provincial. If we are to host an Olympic event we need a world-class facility . The facility can later be used by the community for adult and children's soccer leagues and Las Vegas can continue to host soccer matches from around the region and the world.

Furthermore, if the United States ever hosts the World Cup again, Las Vegas can be ready to host some of the games , not to mention maybe having a professional soccer team of our own and a home to house it.

With our growing Hispanic population, the stadium will not go to waste. Look, I am a native Las Vegan; my parents came from soccer-fanatic Argentina and my father, Jose, continues to have a huge impact on the development of the sport in Las Vegas, and he and I agree we need a new stadium.

If Third World countries can build new Olympic facilities , I am sure Las Vegas can, too.

Brian Paco Alvarez, Las Vegas