Mayor Oscar Goodman lashed out Wednesday at county commissioners and casinos who have questioned using tax dollars to build a new arena with a professional team anchoring it.

"The county, it's like a prostitute almost, haggling about price," he said at the Las Vegas City Council meeting. "They're saying, 'It's OK to have this funding gap to have this arena without a professional team, but if we have a professional team it's going to cost more.' To me, that's silliness."

A report adopted Wednesday by the City Council said that the valley needs a new $405 million arena to replace the Thomas & Mack Center. That cost doesn't include land, infrastructure or parking.

Basing a pro sports team in the arena would require an annual public subsidy of nearly $27 million, according to the report prepared by the consultant Conventions, Sports & Leisure International.

An arena that instead focused on concerts, rodeos and other events without a pro sports anchor tenant would require only $11 million a year from taxpayers because revenue-generating operations would not need to be handed over to a private sports team.

County commissioners on Tuesday questioned whether the added cost of a professional sports team was worth it.

"I was very disappointed, and I was sorely disappointed to be quite frank with you, when I read some of the commentary of county officials," Goodman said. "It seems to me that was political posturing. The easiest thing for a politician to say is, 'We're not going to spend any taxpayer money.' But that's not what's at issue here. What's at issue here is to make this into a world-class city."

Goodman pointed to the excitement and community interest in UNLV men's basketball when Jerry Tarkanian was coaching as a smaller-scale example of what a pro sports team could mean to the valley.

In an interview Wednesday, Reid stood by the County Commission's position regarding a pro sports team.

"I think the disagreement here is whether we can afford one," Reid said. "We'd all love to have one. I'd love to be watching a Las Vegas sports team courtside. I just think the questions need to be asked."

The county still is trying to deal with explosive growth, the need for more jail space and problems with Child Protective Services, he said.

Reid wants private landowners and developers to come forward with proposals and show a willingness to help. "They need to step up. It's impossible to decide whether this is something we can do until we see what they will contribute to the effort," he said.

Bill Rhoda, a principal with the consultant, told the City Council that the new arena could be built and a NBA or NHL franchise added later.

Goodman has said that he wants to see a arena with a pro sports team downtown in part because it would help revitalize the city's core.

"Naysayers are certainly welcome. It's America," Goodman said. "But if they think this is going to stop a quest to have such a facility, if they think it's going to impede potential discussions with professional sports franchises, they'll certainly be disappointed."

The City Council and County Commission directed their top managers to meet to discuss sites and financing options.

Goodman has said that he has ways to build an arena without taxpayer money if an NBA or NHL franchise is involved. He has not said how that would happen.

City Councilman Steve Wolfson said the city should move forward by itself if necessary.

"We should take the lead. The city shouldn't sit back anymore," he said.

Goodman also took on casinos who have argued that because they built their casinos without public money, an NBA or NHL owner shouldn't get taxpayer contributions to a new arena. "I think they don't want somebody leaving the casinos for four hours to see a basketball game or a hockey game," he said.