[JBC77]

By RYAN NAKASHIMA, AP Business Writer
August 22, 2007

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Casino giant Harrah's Entertainment announced Wednesday it is partnering with AEG, the company that brought David Beckham to the Los Angeles Galaxy, to build a 20,000-seat arena capable of housing an NBA or NHL team.

The arena, behind the Bally's and Paris hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, is projected to open in 2010. It's a step toward attracting a pro sports franchise to a city that has tried to convince reluctant league officials to look past its legalized sports betting.

The deal puts a major dent in Mayor Oscar Goodman's plans to have an arena built downtown. The site for the arena, a block east of the Strip, is in unincorporated Clark County, outside city limits.

Gary Loveman, the chief executive of Harrah's, which is being bought by two private equity firms in a $17.1 billion deal, said the development was "very much a part of our master plan for Las Vegas," a long-awaited vision that is expected to link or redevelop its nine hotel-casino properties in Las Vegas, including Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah's and the Rio.

"This arena is being developed with the capability of hosting an NHL or NBA franchise from day one," said Timothy Leiweke, the president and chief executive of AEG, which owns the Galaxy and the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

"We continue to have productive conversations with potential owners and are optimistic that either basketball or hockey, or both, will be played in Las Vegas when the venue opens," he said in a statement.

The arena to be built on 10 acres of land that Harrah's owns is to be privately financed. Construction is set to begin on the project in the summer of 2008.

[JBC77]

Could end up being home to the NBA franchise-Las Vegas Kings.

[betplom]

Hopefully the NHL never allows a franchise in Nevada, or any other US city before more NHL teams are awarded to Canadian cities (where they will be appreciated and supported).

I think that Milwaukee should get an NHL franchise before Vegas.

[Otters27]

will NBA even consider this after the ref betting scandal?

[Visitors]

I think that Milwaukee should get an NHL franchise.

100% agree. How call them? Milwaukee IceStallions?? Milwaukee WildBoars? Wisconsin LeopardSeals? Wisconsin Hippopotamuses?

[bigboydan]

I think if any franchise of any sport being in Vegas is a mistake. Why this year alone with all the gambling scandals in Pucks, Hoops, and even Football it should tell these leagues Vegas shouldn't even be considered at anytime at all.

[JBC77]

will NBA even consider this after the ref betting scandal?

I think they might. The mayor of Vegas was pushing hard for an NBA franchise, the last people he courted were the Maloof brothers. Seems like a perfect fit. They have been trying to get a new arena for years. I think the Maloof's have the balls to make a move like that.

[JBC77]

You can't police grown men when it comes to gambling. High paid athletes are less vulnerable to being bribed. A team in Vegas is just as likely to be bribed by point shavers as they would be in New York.

It's not much of a comparison because you can't bet on sports in Connecticut but the Mohegans putting a WNBA team at the casino has been a decent marriage of casino/sports.

[dodif]

I would imagine one of the stipulations would be that u couldnt bet on the vegas team in vegas. JUst like you cant place an NBA bet at the Palms because the Maloofs own it.

Stop

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