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By Dave Toplikar (contact) 
Thursday, June 24, 2010 | 12:41 p.m.
Sun Coverage
- Mayor to meet with developers about downtown arena (6-10-2010)
- Strip sports arena has very little support (6-10-2010)
- Mayor: New sports arena should be in downtown Las Vegas (4-8-2010)
- Cowboys Stadium poses Texas-sized threat to Vegas (3-21-2010)
- Jerry Jones says Cowboys, NFL will lift boxing (3-9-2010)
- Cordish projects include sports-anchored developments (11-4-2009)
- Goodman: 20,000-seat downtown arena could lure NBA team (10-29-09)
Las Vegas could find out within two weeks whether a top-of-the-line sports arena will be built in the city's downtown, says Mayor Oscar Goodman.
"Things are happening and they're happening very rapidly and hopefully we'll have some major announcements," Goodman said Thursday at his weekly press conference. "That's as far as I can go."
The mayor said he planned to have a follow-up telephone conversation Friday with officials from the Cordish Companies Inc., the city's downtown developer.
Goodman traveled to Baltimore to meet with developer Blake Cordish two weeks ago to find out face to face what the developer has done since entering last November into an exclusive two-year negotiation agreement with the city council to see if a sports arena, an entertainment district and a new hotel-casino are feasible for downtown.
At that meeting, he found they were continuing to analyze the finances, locations and the scope of the project. For example, they have looked at building an arena and an entertainment complex, an entertainment complex by itself and an arena by itself.
"It's still very viable," Goodman said. "We're talking about, perhaps, a different location for it. Instead of the 13 acres across the street from city hall, we're perhaps, thinking in terms of Symphony Park."
He said he was hoping that discussions were taking place between Cordish and two other Symphony Park developers, LiveWork Las Vegas and Forest City Enterprises, concerning the 6.5-acre "Parcel P-Q," located on the north side of the park, which had been valued at $40 million.
Forest City's plans for the P-Q area had been for a 47-story hotel/casino casino.
"Forest City has the rights to it," Goodman said. "So if we're going to go there (with the arena) there has to be some kind of a deal worked out between Cordish and with Forest City."
Although Symphony Park is publicly owned land, Goodman said he wasn't at liberty to say why Cordish was more interested in moving the arena site to Symphony Park.
When pressed for a timetable as when Cordish might make an announcement, he said "within two weeks."
Asked why he liked the Symphony Park location better, Goodman indicated it was because of the mixed public uses at the park (formerly called Union Park), which will include the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Ruvo Brain Institute and a new city hall.
"I look at it as a complex for the ages," Goodman said.
Goodman said an entertainment district in Symphony Park was "a lot more feasible than the arena, with the complexities of what kind of public funding would have to go into it."
The mayor said there is probably not enough room for an arena, an entertainment district and a hotel/casino on Parcel P-Q.
However, he said the city does have the option to build on some adjacent Symphony Park property that was to be used by developer Robert Zarnegin for a key world jewelry industry hub, a development that was put on hold last summer.
"But that does not mean I want to dissuade him (Zarnegin) from going forward on the jewelry mart, because I think that's a great project," Goodman said. "It's just not the right time. People aren't buying jewelry."
Goodman said an entertainment district in Symphony Park was "a lot more feasible than the arena, with the complexities of what kind of public funding would have to go into it."
Public funding? REQUEST DENIED! How can the good mayor expect the tax paying public to finance a project in the midst of the worst economic crisis in our lifetime? Public financing means taxpayers pick up the tab and Corporate America reaps the profits. Have another drink Rudolph the Red Nosed mayor.
So when does it end, the story changes again, who is going to pay for the arena? I thought that is why we needed a new city hall was to make room for the new arena? How much did the city council pay Cordish Company for their upcoming report?
Let me guess, now is the time to build an arena downtown, in Symphony Park, on parcel PQ.
And the taxpayers will pay for it.....
What a waste of tax payers money. People in Vegas want to watch the sporting events in the Sports Book at the casinos.
The population here is to small to fill the stadium. Wait until the bullet train to California is running and maybe we may get them to travel here. Yeah right!
I notice the news services have all reported on Rory Reid dropping his last name in his television ads. Running from Dad instead of along side him.
I also notice the Reid press office (the Sun ) hasn't reported on this. The sun seems to be using its CORPORATE money to shield a favored candidate, just as they fear other corporation may support a candidate. Just noticing.
I'll oppose public funding for an arena as soon as the CCSD is privatized.
We could call it the Oscar Goodman arena, It could house the homeless on non-game days.
I love Downtown Las Vegas as a reasonably priced tourist destination.
A sports arena might really harm the Downtown area and the hotel/casinos there. Parking free at a casino parking garage and walking to the arena might become common. That certainly won't help the casino's bottom line.
I am a tourist, not a Las Vegas resident, but Mayor Goodman's idea seems dreadful to me.
Mayor Goodman is dreaming again about a new arena.
If it gets built I don't want my money used
this is not about jobs..its about another developer coming in with OUR money to build a stadium..whooppie...The article this morning on diversification is key..Manufacturing companies that produce, not a venue that will rely on "descretionary" spending...haven't we learned our lesson yet?
KenoDave...Have another drink Rudolph the Red Nosed mayor. That was funny!
I think there is already enough traffic in the downtown area and an arena would make it MUCH worse!
I think that he's right - it's probably financially "viable" but it's time this country get out of the mindset to the taxpayers fund a stadium so that a private company's team can profit from it. Any developer in the world is more than welcome to come here and build the stadium. Taxpayers don't need to.
my question is that if they do build it in the smpany park will the casino go witb tbe arena
It should be a universal stadium:
With movable roof like in New Orleans when it's too hot to close it and leave it open when it's nice.
Soccer games
Football games
Hockey
All games******
That's how Vegas should make the money** Going BIG!
NOT A SINGLE PENNY OF PUBLIC MONEY. NONE. Nevada allegedly hates "Big Government - Tax & Spend - SUBSIDIES - BAILOUTS"? Put up AND Shut-Up! Listen carefully: NOT A SINGLE PENNY. PERIOD.
I like Oscar, he used to represent my (deceased) friend Charlie Blu, so it's hard to admonish such a Mensch ... BUT ... let the arena do it with their OWN money, NOT MINE ... Cheers, TF
downtown is the only place a layman can afford!
It's funny that Oscar didn't make a comment on the funding. I wish that reporters would ask the tough questions and if the question was asked I would love to know if Oscar refused to answer the question.
This company that wants to build better pay for the land too.
NO PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE PROJECTS.
If we could only pass the message on to the federal government.
No Public Funds!!!