Public hearings on proposed soccer stadium begin

By Conor Shine

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 | 10:27 a.m.

After several canceled public meetings last month, Las Vegas residents will finally get a chance to examine a proposal for a downtown soccer stadium and ask questions about financing in a series of meetings starting tonight.

The city council delayed a vote on the $200 million stadium earlier this month over concerns that it hadn’t been vetted enough with residents. The financing terms were released just a week before the council was scheduled to make a decision at its Sept. 3 meeting.

That meeting was also the first chance the public had to comment on the proposal. Dozens of enthusiastic soccer fans turned out to support the project, but concerns persisted about the share of public money that would be used to build the stadium.

Under the financial terms being considered, the city would issue bonds and provide cash to cover more than 75 percent of the up-front costs. The bonds would then be paid back by a combination of rent from the soccer team and a share of the city’s room tax collections.

The first public meeting is being held tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Centennial Hills Community Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

Other scheduled meetings:

• Wednesday, Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m., Doolittle Community Center, 1950 J St.

• Thursday, Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m., Rogich Middle School, 235 Pavillion Center Drive

• Tuesday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m., Durango Hills Community Center, 3521 N. Durango Drive,

Classroom C

• Wednesday, Sept. 24, 5 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 495 S. Main St.

• Thursday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m., Development Services Center, 333 N. Rancho Drive, Great Basin 5th floor room

The city will vote on a non-binding financial term sheet for the stadium on Oct. 1. If the terms are approved, the developers would have until December to prepare a lease and development agreement, which would need final approval by the council.