Three-facility downtown stadium proposal would compete with UNLV dome

The dazzling Feb. 1 presentation by a development group promising to not only build a 40,000-seat domed stadium at UNLV but remake its campus appears to have hit its first significant hurdle.

A separate group, International Development Management LLC, that hopes to construct a three-venue sports complex downtown is lobbying the Board of Regents to vote against approving an exclusivity negotiating agreement for the UNLV venture.

The regents have called a special meeting for Friday to discuss whether to enter into such an agreement with a group led by Southern California billionaire builder Ed Roski and Silverton Casino president Craig Cavileer.

On the face, it appears the two projects have little in common, but the first to build a stadium in the valley probably ends the chances of a second being constructed in the near future.

IDM also hopes to attract UNLV's basketball, football, baseball and soccer teams as tenants for $1 per year plus event expenses. The group plans to construct a 50,000-seat stadium, a 17,500-seat arena and a 9,000-seat ballpark that also could house the Triple-A 51s.

51s executive director Don Logan said previous stadium proposals that fizzled have taught him to temper his enthusiasm before true progress is made.

"You just want to get to the whole root of it," Logan said. "I think everybody (with the 51s) is aware of the talk, but at this point, it's just talk."

IDM says its $1.58 billion project could be ready to begin construction by October and open two years later. Spokeswoman Lee Haney said this project has been in the works for two years and has quietly lined up financing. An IDM document states no tax money is needed.

"We need the regents to be aware we're moving forward and our project is viable," Haney said. "We don't want them to tie their hands and have a situation where they couldn't work with us."

The project, called the Las Vegas National Sports Center, would be on a 70-acre parcel in Symphony Park. City of Las Vegas spokesman Jace Radke noted the city can only discuss an arena project in that location with the Cordish Cos., a Baltimore-based developer that the city has been negotiating with for years.

Radke said the city has not been in talks with IDM CEO Chris Milam "because we have an (exclusive negotiating agreement) with Cordish. We're bound from talking to anybody else."

Haney said IDM is "working in conjunction with Cordish" because they have similar interests. She said IDM is interested in the sports complex and Cordish in the retail side.

"They are having discussions with Cordish," Radke said. "That's our understanding."

IDM clearly is a competitor of the UNLV Now project presented by Roski and Cavileer that not only would build a stadium on campus but create student housing, hotels and parking garages that would almost completely change the face of the university.

Haney pointed out that by the competing group's own admission, it was light on specifics and not far along.

The IDM document also is critical of placing a stadium so close to the airport and of the disruption that would be caused by changes to Swenson Street. IDM also stated Roski and Cavileer's group seeks $100 million from UNLV alumni to get started.

Attempts to reach Cavileer for comment were unsuccessful.

Regent Mark Alden said "unless something changes," he won't vote to give UNLV Now exclusive negotiating rights.

"Anybody who reads the material and does a full analysis would vote no," Alden said. "If they wouldn't, they're not very bright."

Regents chairman James Dean Leavitt said he planned to enter the meeting with an open mind.

"Absolutely, and I always encourage other members to do the same," Leavitt said.

UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood said he was aware of the downtown proposal, but didn't have enough information to comment on it. University president Neal Smatresk did not respond to a text message for comment.

There probably would be concern on the part of UNLV officials about moving four of its sports downtown, but Haney said playing in what would be professional facilities would help recruiting.

She said IDM has talked to different pro leagues about bringing a team to one of the potential new venues. Haney said, however, no agreement is in place and that, contrary to reports, there never was one with an NBA team.

Review-Journal reporter Alan Choate contributed to this report. Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.