Only four months ago, construction workers were boring holes 70 feet deep and preparing to pour concrete for a foundation. But on Thursday morning, the ovular skeleton of the $375 million, 20,000-seat arena was taking shape, with the steel work even showing the first signs of the suite level.
The Las Vegas City Council voted 4-3 to approve a stadium subsidy deal with a development partner seeking to bring a Major League Soccer team to play at the $200 million stadium.
Las Vegas city officials have released the latest terms in their proposed stadium subsidy deal with Findlay Sports & Entertainment and The Cordish Cos. for a $200 millon Major League Soccer stadium in downtown Symphony Park.
Las Vegas’ bid for a Major League Soccer team drew the attention of the league’s Board of Governors Saturday when the board received a report on expansion proposals by groups in Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Sacramento.
Sin City’s unique status as a world entertainment destination makes it possible to lure professional sports teams without a public arena or stadium subsidies most cities must pay.
The Board of Governors of MLS, which is expanding to 24 teams, is meeting in New York on Dec. 6, with expansion expected to be among the primary discussion topics, said Dean Howes, a soccer stadium adviser helping Justin Findlay on a downtown stadium proposal in Las Vegas. At that time, Las Vegas may learn whether it is selected as the final Major League Soccer expansion team.
The chief financial officer for MGM Resorts International said Thursday the company has held discussions with a group looking to bring a National Hockey League team to Las Vegas, but the talks were preliminary.
The groundbreaking for Jackie Robinson’s $1.4 billion arena and hotel project on the Strip on Wednesday fueled talk that the National Basketball Association will have a team in Las Vegas one day.
UNLV’s campus stadium initiative culminated Thursday with the stadium board approving resolutions endorsing a venue at the university — someday.
After securing its perch as a pro-basketball city amid much controversy last year, Sacramento is now aiming to add Major League Soccer, a move that could help revitalize the California capital and mark it as a regional center for sports.
