LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Sports arena would be a bad investment here

Marie Westmoreland, Las Vegas

Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

Once again our mayor is living a pipe dream. A sports arena? This has to be a joke. How much is this feasibility study costing us? Are we really hoping the economy turns around in two years so we can then justify spending this money?

Do we honestly believe people will continue to visit Las Vegas when they are unemployed and losing their homes? In my world, a vacation is a luxury, not a necessity. There are many who have never been on a vacation — they are too busy trying to survive.

For some strange reason we still believe that if we build it — an arena — they will come. But die-hard fans are those who, win or lose, support their team. Has anyone bothered to count the number of fans who attend UNLV football and basketball games?

Unfortunately we are a town of people who only want to associate with winners.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By vsestini

11/8/09 at 8:26 a.m.

Suggest removal

Oscar Goodman is dreaming again, but its sounds more like another Beefeater Gin nightmare! Yes, oh yes, let's build another sports arena in downtown Las Vegas. This will improve the downtown flow of gaming traffic to the casinos? Bull crappola! Betting on this is like being a dupe for a shaved dice crap game in some dark, dank and smoke-filled back room somewhere. It is fantasy time and preposterous to even consider this renewed 'pie in the sky' boondoggle.

Remember the proposed gigantic super domed deluxe multi-sports stadium originally proposed for the area behind the Union Plaza Hotel? It was an idea, a fantasy floated, touted and proposed as the end all of problems for the downtown area. No one really thought through the finances, or thought to consider the impact such a endeavor would have on traffic on the I-15 "Spaghetti Bowl" leading to casino center?

Mr Mayor, we don't need more major league sports events in Vegas. This city will not support any such adventure and you know it very well; that has been proven time and time again. The NFR Rodeo and the NASCAR track are enough.

Mr. Mayor, I like you but really, get a grip on reality...let's improve our traffic signal systems and parking first, then do something about bus transportation in the city and county. Traffic to and from downtown is horrendous enough as it is, a sports arena in that area would be an idiot's nightmare come true. No, No and a thousand times NO to this idea....for God's sake but the idea to bed; get some sleep yourself as you look like you might really need a good snooze.
By jlb101

11/8/09 at 3:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

So what's new? Almost everything built downtown in the last ten years has been a bad investment. Government never lets facts interfear with whatever stupid thing they want to do.
By Burrittobandit2

11/8/09 at 9 p.m.

Suggest removal

Build it on Oscar's nose
By Phargo

11/9/09 at 3:47 p.m.

Suggest removal

When any government job is put out for bid the bidders always pack enough profit to pay the councilmen and women who voted it in Especially for the Mayor. The idea is that "money cannot be stolen until we build something"

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