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Monday, July 26, 2010 | 11:03 p.m.
Proposed arena site
Reader poll
Sun archives
- Mayor: Without public funding for arena, Las Vegas won’t get NBA team (7-22-2010)
- Mayor skeptical about NBA ‘contract’ for proposed Strip arena (7-15-2010)
- NBA team ‘under contract’ if Las Vegas builds an arena (7-14-2010)
- Detroit Pistons moving to Las Vegas? Don't bet on it (7-15-2010)
- Mayor: Downtown Las Vegas sports arena ‘very viable’ (6-24-2010)
- Strip sports arena has very little support (6-10-2010)
- MGM Mirage opposes arena options seeking public financing (5-18-2010)
- County wants arena details, says public money unlikely (4-6-2010)
- Cowboys Stadium poses Texas-sized threat to Vegas (3-21-2010)
- Jerry Jones says Cowboys, NFL will lift boxing (3-9-2010)
- New arena plans promise jobs but seek public money (3-4-2010)
- Rodeo rustler? Tourism officials worry Dallas Cowboys owner could steal Vegas event (3-4-2010)
- City OKs plan to study downtown arena, entertainment district (11-4-2009)
- Cordish projects include sports-anchored developments (11-4-2009)
- Goodman: 20,000-seat downtown arena could lure NBA team (10-29-09)
Emotions fumed and facts emerged with little clarity at the Winchester Town Advisory Board meeting Monday in the first public discussion of a proposed sports arena on the north end of the Strip.
Chris Milam, CEO of International Development Management, presented the 200,000 square foot Silver State Arena to a crowd checkered with yellow “No Silver State Arena” shirts, skeptical of compatibility and traffic problems, and equally vocal supporters, who pushed the project by pointing to the potential for economic growth and employment.
The board ultimately continued the item, granting no recommendation for either approval or denial. Milam and Sue Lowden, the property owner and former U.S. Senate candidate, can elect to move forward to the Clark County commissioners meeting on Aug. 4 or to appear before the Winchester board again on Aug. 11 in search of a recommendation.
Milam’s presentation featured a 22,000 capacity arena, comparing it to the Olympic stadium in Beijing. The facility would cost $400 million, and Milam said his company would spend $100 million in local labor and another $100 million on local materials.
It would be built on the site of the now deceased Wet ‘n Wild on Las Vegas Boulevard South and Paradise Road, slightly south of Sahara Avenue. Primary access to the arena would be on Las Vegas Boulevard South and Paradise Road.
He pledged the project could break ground in the fourth quarter of 2010 with the goal of opening in October 2012. Milam repeated that, as previously reported, negotiations were under way to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas and added the potential for an NHL team as well. He said UNLV had also expressed interest in having its men’s basketball team play there.
According to Milam’s figures, the arena’s construction would employ more than 4,000 workers. Union leaders present at the meeting said up to 40 percent of the members of their organizations were unemployed. Several citizens spoke passionately about the need for those jobs in the wake of the recent recession.
“We need to reinvent Las Vegas,” said Robert Conway, a member of the ironworkers union, echoing earlier comments that the opposition was delaying the inevitable. Milan estimated the arena, which would also host rodeos, concerts and other entertainment, could generate $500 million in new economy activity and $25 million in new taxes.
As for financing, Milam said his company would pay 85 percent of the cost. The other 15 percent would be funneled through a redevelopment tax district, which would cap its revenue at $125 million. He stressed that no new taxes would be introduced to pay for the arena.
However, many members of the audience, mostly residents of the neighboring Turnberry Towers, expressed concerns about the area’s ability to handle the traffic flux and other possible damages to their quality of life—noise, pollution, etc.
The county’s staff recommended the board deny the application because of a possible vehicular “grid lock”, given its understanding of access to the arena, and similar concerns about compatibility. Those findings contradicted Milam’s assertion that traffic studies had proved the site could weather the traffic.
One county commissioner also voiced her doubts about the funding and location.
“We will not support public tax dollars funding this arena or any other arena,” said Chris Giunchigliani, commissioner for the area, punching one hole in Milam’s plan. “I think it’s an awesome project, but it’s the wrong site. And if you want to build something, build it with your own money.”
Opponents frequently referenced the Fontainebleau, the bankrupt and unfinished casino resort bordering Turnberry Towers, a project that also promised economic improvements, but floundered as the economy stalled.
Others wondered if an NBA team was really on the verge of coming to Las Vegas, as Milam has been unable to publicly disclose which franchise would come to the Strip.
The board’s honored Milam’s request for a continuation, leaving the project in legal limbo. Milam stated his willingness to work with the surrounding residents to address the traffic issues and other challenges, and some opponents returned the possibility of compromise.
The future of a sports arena in Las Vegas, however, remains uncertain. The county commissioners meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Aug. 4.
The City is broke, the County is broke, the State is broke, so lets spend some money.
The county's staff recommended the board deny the application because of a possible vehicular "grid lock",
But City Center did not create vehicular gridlock?
The proposed site isn't in Las Vegas, it is in the county. The Las Vegas city limits stops at Sahara. So how much would it raise in taxes again?
It's hard enough to drive through that area as it is, nonetheless with 22,000 other people. The Commissioners should take a field trip.
The 4,000 jobs might provide jobs for the near future, the taxpayers will be paying on them forever
The taxpayers tend to always get screwed with these deals.
BUILD IT....They will come.If it does go ahead they need to bulldoze Thomas&Mack as part of the deal and sell or lease the property to pay for it and make the monorail and RTC service this new arena with little parking like they do in the bay area.
sue lowdon one of the owners, enough said. aren't you guys sick of these creeps yet.
Sue Lowden wants public money!!! What happened to all of her PRIVATE SECTOR BS!!!! Typical Republican....just out for themselves.
The proposal contains a request for thousand of FEWER parking spaces than the law requires. These "entrepeneurs" already know that their stadium will be a failure and won't attract the crowds they claim.
And, aside from clogging the south Strip and Paradise Rd., the only other way to go north/south in the area and the main access to the airport, Las Vegas' lifeline, it will overwhelm I-15 exit on Sahara Avenue, one Nevada's busiest.
Look, I realize Sue and her husband are stuck with the property and are looking for anything to use it for, but this is not the place for an active stadium. Car loving Las Vegans would rather have a stadium that is actually accesible. The off-Strip sites all allow that. Los Angelenos are not going to drive 5 hours to go to a stadium when the have every professional sports team in the LA valley at stadiums surrounded by freeways.
And BTW, the same number of "jobs" will be created if the stadium were to be built in a suitable location.
Let's hope this mis-placed monstrosity never hatches.
Traffic on Las Vegas Blvd is not bad enough... Lets build a stadium and make it worse.
Sue, why don't you and Chris Milam use your own money? I be happy to see you make a "killing" on this boondoggle project. Don't forget to reroute the fixed rail so it goes by "your" new stadium. Maybe Lowdon, Milan and Harry Greid could all do the project together?
They should have entry and exit ramps to and from the freeway connecting to the parking area of the stadium. A stadium right here will create freeway traffic, surface street traffic (cars, vans, buses), pedestrian traffic. There will be a need for a taxi, bus dropoff/pick-up area.
If there is minor grid lock it will only take place two times a day when events are scheduled. 3 days a week max, except if they schedule more than 3 home games a week. The crowds will vary,as will the different needs of different fans depending on if their here already, just driving in, or what part of the valley they live in or are staying in.
I think it would be a perfect spot for the arena. Great for taxi and foot traffic.
As far as tourism goes, wasn't it determined that it is better for Las Vegas to be a "neutral" sports site which is the second home to all sports teams in some way?
Short, this would give people a reason to come to town, to see a game and spend money. The more Vegas has to offer, the more people will come to town.
Did they forget when the did the traffic report about the Fountainblu when that mega hotel opens and this arena is built we will have total grid lock. Great idea wrong place I want my NBA team !!!
BUILD IT
Ignore the winers.
is it sue lowdon or sue lowden...
is it the sue lowden the failed senate candidate who lost to psycho sharron...
should have made that clear dylan...
either way...
absolutely horrible location...
the strip traffic is ridiculous already...
the turnberry folks can and will kill this...
So Clark County Planning staff voted against this boondoggle, concerned citizens took the time to protest, but the County Commissioners will revisit it?
Who on the County Commission is pulling these strings? Is there any dirty money involved?
Maybe they should take the project to Oscar Goodman and Sympony Park.
Tom Shermspun
Great Ruins of Las Vegas News
This is a transient town with no solid base of people who will support a Vegas team. Everyone already has a team from their hometowns/states. You aren't going to get locals to support them just because they make up a team here.
And after that All-star game you can keep the NBA riff-raff outta here. That was just a preview of what will happen.
And anything that requires public funding..no way. Jobs will be created temporarily, but jobs will be lost when they are scraping up the public's portion to pay for it.
Jobs? It will go to Perinni who will then do the same as they did with CC.. Poor construction, law suits, etc and the NO ONE wil lbe able to bid the project EXCEPT union companies - it wil lbe a lock and a right to steal. The $400 million? Knowing Perini, thats a low ball plus over runs..if the county has money from the "tax" to put towards this project, use the money to go attract REAL business to the ctate...a stadium will not be used everyday. A company will use its workers everyday and produce more long term investment in the community.
retired youngster dont know squat.
While I agree Perini sucks, all the other Union shops did an excellent job out there...what? Ohhh Perini's not union? Non Union dont have enough skilled workers to handle these types of projects, just ask Station Casino' who decided it was better to spend a little more on Union shops because the job gets done right the first time.
Typical tax and spend liberalism. Tax the working man to pay for the liberal elite to watch sports.
Sue Lowden is the only hope for this state. Dingy Harry is the reason we have the highest unemployment in the country. Now he wants us to give him another term. Only the arrogance of the liberal elite would expect a coronation. Another example of S.P.O.R.P. - Socialist Policies of O-dumb-a, Reid, Pelosi.
Build it and extend the monorail to McCarran.
It willl create jobs, Las Vegas will have a first class arena. Build it.
I'd vote for anyone who...
A) Builds an arena in Vegas.
B) Extends monorail from airport/unlv/stadium/downtown
Someone with balls needs to step up and JUST DO IT.
kenodave are you really that stupid?!
"But City Center did not create vehicular gridlock?"
City center doesn't have 22,000 people trying to get there all at the SAME TIME or leave at the SAME TIME!
And for those who think it's a good idea to have the taxpayers pay for this cuz it will create jobs, if the taxpayers pay to build me a new house, that will create jobs too! How about we push for that as well. Friggin Reid-tards!
The developer says he can put up 85%, but needs 15% from the taxpayers.
JUST MAKE IT 15% S M A L L E R.
Eliminate the frills and build it with
your own money if it's such a sure thing.
BEGONE EVIL DEVELOPERS !!!!!
"Arena?"
"We ain't got no arena."
"We don't need no arena!"
"I don't have to pay for any stinkin' arena."
There was a recent AP article that talks about Golden Boy promotions (boxing for those of you sports illiterate) now bringing more events to the new arena in Brooklyn, New York upon completion.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=...
Now if only some people in Vegas have enough sense to read between the lines and realize that it is a sign of things to come if something is not done about a new arena/stadium. Private, public, strip, downtown, whatever.
I can only advocate this so many times as I am only one man with one vote. But I am nowhere near hesitant to vote with my wallet. And it can mean be the difference between keeping money within the local economy, or contributing to the economics of SoCal and Arizona.
Build The New Arena but not with public money
BRING BACK WET N' WILD
NOT LIKE LAS VEGAS WILL EVER SUPPORT A PRO TEAM
just make sure there is potty parity then all will be well
1. YES! Bring back WET N' WILD!!
2. A NBA team will not survive here. You really think we can concentrate on attending 41 home games with a NBA team?? I don't think so!
3. Bring a NFL team instead with 8 home games! With steady game times. 10am or 1pm usually. Just think of a Monday Night Football game in Vegas!!!
Is Lowden offering chickens for a "yes" vote to each of the County Commissioners?
She's obviously not the brightest so I wouldn't weight in heavily with anything she has to say.
Plus, if you look at how she ran her failed senatorial campaign it's obvious she's a money grubbing right-wing wacko concerned only with herself.
Put the arena next to a freeway. Duh! No brainer.
4,000 minimum wage jobs to attract illegals. What we need are jobs that the middle class needs to support their families. We need a sports arena like we need a hole in the head. The only successful arenas are in much denser population centers than Vegas.
They need to bring Carl Icahn in as a partner. His blue elephant (the Fontainebleau) might actually get finished if there's an arena next door.
Say its not so,,, Sue Lowden property owner,, and how much is this land worth,,, and how much side cash with this deal from the developer.... Sounds like Sue is padding her purse very heavily on this deal...........
Bring Back WET N WILD......
No new taxes to pay for this deal.... of course until the county has to pick up the tab for it being empty and a waste of tax money... So which team is wanting to play here so far.... HHMMMMMM... none.................lol
Hmmm... I've seen pictures of this new arena, and it looks great... However, I see some pros and cons. Yes, it would help stimulate the economy. It would be great to have a sports team here, since I moved from an area that has one. I miss going to games. However, what some said is correct. Las Vegas has the highest number of people who were born out of State... So we hold out allegiances to our home teams.
However, when I really look at this... I would rather have a water park. I used to live in Wisconsin, and we are the water park capital of the world. I miss those things, and really only go, when I travel back home. Listen, it's too hot out here. I mean, it's 2:38 am, and it's 90 degrees out. We need a water park out here. It would be so much fun to go and cool off there. I also think an indoor one would be better... so we don't have to worry about water being wasted through evaporation and other ways.
So, yeah, I would rather have a water park on that site.