SO WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH LAS VEGAS IN SPORTS?
Las Vegas is always on the top of the list for new Sports Venues for the 4 Major Sports, yet there are no teams in Las Vegas. So 2 Questions: What is the attraction that Las Vegas has that brings all these rumors to the surface? And if it’s so attractive, why cannot a team ever be set up there? (I get it, money issues, but if they do not have money, then again, what is creating the buzz for a Las Vegas franchise?)
P.S.- This is brought up from the old rumors of having a hockey franchise there and where the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics were also rumored to go before it ultimately went to OKlahoma City..
Las Vegas is always on the top of the list for new Sports Venues for the 4 Major Sports, yet there are no teams in Las Vegas. So 2 Questions: What is the attraction that Las Vegas has that brings all these rumors to the surface? And if it’s so attractive, why cannot a team ever be set up there? (I get it, money issues, but if they do not have money, then again, what is creating the buzz for a Las Vegas franchise?)
P.S.- This is brought up from the old rumors of having a hockey franchise there and where the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics were also rumored to go before it ultimately went to OKlahoma City..
4 Major Sports. 4 Major Sports. 4 Major Sports. That is NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL.
4 Major Sports. 4 Major Sports. 4 Major Sports. That is NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL.
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May 30, 2010 - 7:35 pm
Actually Las Vegas has an ECHL team the Las Vegas Wranglers
May 30, 2010 - 8:11 pm
because its las vegas sin city
May 30, 2010 - 9:05 pm
Las Vegas is all about $$$$$………something you need to get a pro franchise. As far as hockey goes, they have someone interested in ownership (atleast he was) in Jerry Bruckenheimer (CSI guy) and there would be plenty of corporate dollars.
Apparently (Bettman said yesterday) that an arena is an issue to overcome although I thought there was one being built by Harrah’s (must not be sufficient).
NBA also could move in….I think they had an all-star game there fairly recently?! Also, there have been rumours of it. Of course the Maloof brothers who own the Sacramento Kings, also own the Palms Hotel and Casino which is a very nice casino (been there)…Ghost Bar…Hart & Huntington….Rain are all there. In fact, the NHL Awards Showwill be held there in June and you can go for 500$…includes the show, music and an after party at Rain.
It is my opinion that a major sport will be there soon and they will be very successful….I think it will be hockey.
May 30, 2010 - 9:49 pm
Reason : Tourist Dollars…. That’s why the want to build an arena near the Strip instead of an area more accessible to “locals”. People who live here rarely go to The Strip unless they work there, or have friends come from out-of-town. This is a concept most people who DON’T live here fail to understand. As far as the arena is concerned, it has been put on hold. They had a groundbreaking ceremony last year and turned a shovelful of dirt. That’s it so far. Plus you can’t count on tourist dollars when the visitor count and casino win% is down 15% a month.
What is creating a buzz is the money grab by the NHL owners for the expansion fees. 300-350 million isn’t chump change. If the NHL was truly serious about putting a team in Las Vegas, they would allow a struggling franchise to be bought for 150-200 million and moved, thus leaving the new owners with 175-150 million dollars to invest in free agents so the team would at least be competitive until it gets its legs and builds up a farm system. I realize there is a salary cap.
The gambling isn’t an issue, as the casinos don’t derive much of its income from hockey betting. Plus in Canada they have ProLine, which is gambling as well.