Click image for enlargement. Graphic by Mike Johnson.

The task force on a fact-finding mission to determine if Southern Nevada needs and would support a major entertainment and sports arena has a preliminary list of 15 potential sites for a facility suitable for hosting an NBA or NHL team.

Bill Rhoda from Conventions, Sports & Leisure International of Plano, Texas, delivered a 90-minute presentation to the seven-member Special Events Center Task Force on Thursday at Cashman Center. A comprehensive 112-page analysis addressed whether Southern Nevada needs a new sports venue and whether the 23-year-old Thomas & Mack Center needs upgrading.

The study suggests it is unrealistic to transform the 18,540-seat Thomas & Mack into a 21st century sports arena. Rhoda said it would require shutting down the arena for up to 18 months during renovations, which would displace all events.

The work would include raising the roof to add seats, luxury boxes and other amenities. Renovation could cost up to $150 million.

Rhoda introduced the 15 sites that had been proposed to the task force by the City of Las Vegas, Clark County and private entities. None has been eliminated, and Rhoda said owners of 9- to 10-acre plots -- large enough to handle the structure, not including parking -- can have their property added to the list.

The next meeting was pushed back from Sept. 14 to Sept. 23 so Rhoda's group can prepare a more detailed construction-cost estimate, review potential sites and determine the viability of each.

"To do this diligently, we needed another month," said Pat Christenson, task force chairman and president of Las Vegas Events. "We came to the conclusion that we were rushing this. We've made progress."

Next month, the task force also will hear suggestions from the same consulting firm regarding who will pay for the facility and how those funds will be obtained.

Rhoda said he will be ready to present a final report to the panel Oct. 26, then return Nov. 8 for a final presentation to city and county officials.

The city and county are each paying $100,000 for the analysis, Christenson said.

Included in the report were statistics and demographics of cities that have built major arenas in the past 11 years. It includes those without professional sports teams and those with either the NBA, NHL or both.

Rhoda's research compared Southern Nevada favorably to cities with existing professional basketball and hockey venues.

However, Boyd Gaming president Keith Smith noted the report did not factor Southern Nevada tourists' potential interest in attending games in a new arena.