EDITORIAL: Rebuilding Cashman

That flushing sound you hear is coming from Cashman Center.

Aging Cashman Field, home of the Las Vegas 51s Triple-A baseball team, and its equally tired convention center are a drain on hotel room tax revenue. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which owns and operates Cashman Center, loses about $4.5 million per year running the place, despite having more than 70 baseball games and more than 200 special events there every year. The 70-acre site practically begs for redevelopment.

The city of Las Vegas agrees — and it’s willing to consider all offers.

The city, which owns the land under Cashman Center, last week opened a three-month bidding window for anyone with a plan and the financial backing to put the site to a more productive purpose.

One caveat: The 51s have a lease on Cashman Field that doesn’t expire until 2022. But the 51s also have made public their desire to build a new stadium in Summerlin — and because the new stadium site sits outside city limits, in unincorporated Clark County, the city has no interest in funding it.

Perhaps the city’s bidding window will attract an offer to rebuild Cashman Field. Perhaps the city will get such a great offer it will accelerate the baseball team’s relocation time line.

Regardless, the redevelopment of Cashman Center has the potential to be a winner all the way around. Razing the place would save the visitors authority millions of dollars per year. Shifting the site onto the property tax rolls would benefit city coffers — and encourage more development in northern downtown.

In fact, opening a bidding window for the redevelopment of Cashman Field is such a great idea, the city should copy it for Symphony Park. Why are city residents still paying The Cordish Cos. to be completely unsuccessful in developing prime downtown acreage? A call for bids would be free.