Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Las Vegas vying to host presidential debate

Thomas & Mack Photo Timeline

Sam Morris

The front exterior of the Thomas & Mack Center on April 30, 2013.

Las Vegas is coming out swinging in the fight to host a presidential debate in 2016.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has partnered with UNLV to try to convince debate organizers to pick the Thomas & Mack Center as the site of one of four debates to be held during the 2016 campaign.

“Las Vegas would be a natural choice for a presidential debate given our ability to host high-profile special events, and the world-class experience our destination provides,” LVCVA President Rossi Ralenkotter said in a statement. “Businesses have long discovered the value of holding their events in Las Vegas, which is why we have held the No. 1 ranking in North America for meetings and conventions for the last 20 years.”

Ralenkotter and UNLV President Len Jessup will act as co-chairs for a city committee formed to lobby for the debate. The committee also includes top executives from a number of Strip resorts, local education groups and Metro Police.

If selected, the debate would be held in 2016 sometime between the end of September and the middle of October.

Las Vegas is competing with 15 other cities for the chance to host a debate. The Commission on Presidential Debates is expected to announce the finalists this fall.

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