Bruckheimer might have the right stuff

Behind-the-scenes momentum has propelled the National Hockey League into an early lead to become the first major professional sports franchise in Las Vegas.

Now that a solidified arena plan is in place, sources say Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer continues to gain backing as the man most likely to end up with an NHL team in Las Vegas.

Moving along the process was the announcement Wednesday by Harrah's Entertainment and Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group to build a privately financed 20,000-seat, $500 million arena to be completed by 2010 behind Bally's.

"Bruckheimer has the edge because he's been working on it longer," said a source involved in getting a major sports franchise in Las Vegas.

Consider Bruckheimer's credentials: As one of Hollywood's richest men, he'd bring the necessary capital as well as the flair that turned his films into blockbusters. Plus he has the connections. His supporters in the league include good friend Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, which owns the NHL Los Angeles Kings and the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

A new arena most likely opens the door for an NHL expansion franchise because of the immediate infusion of cash it would bring to a league that receives only a fraction of TV money the other leagues reap.

An NHL expansion team, I'm told, would cost the prospective owner $250 million to $300 million, which would be divided between the 30 teams.

Meanwhile, a new arena, whether it's the Harrah's-AEG project or the now-wobbly $9.5 billion downtown arena development, keeps the door open for an NBA team.

It would be wrong to assume the NBA referee scandal has damaged Las Vegas' chances, insists a source with long NBA ties.

"There's still strong support for bringing a team here," said the source. "That's a definite."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Madonna and Justin Timberlake will team up at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms on Sept. 9, according to Entertainment Tonight Canada.

The hunch here is they will open the show if Britney Spears continues her flaky behavior and backs out. ...

Ventriloquist Terry Fator, winner of NBC's "America's Got Talent" in Tuesday's finale, already has two Las Vegas gigs lined up. Bally's Las Vegas announced Wednesday that Fator has a deal to perform in the Jubilee! Theater on a regular basis. Details have yet to be finalized. He also has an Oct. 14 performance at the Las Vegas Hilton.

SIGHTINGS

"Dancing With the Stars" quartet Joey Fatone, Drew Lachey, Joey McIntyre and Joey Lawrence continued their Las Vegas visit on Tuesday, stopping in for dinner at Little Buddha (Palms). From there, they headed to Moon nightclub. ...

Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, in the crowd at the Harrah's-AEG news conference at Bally's. He's the managing director of the USA Basketball Senior Men's National Team program for the 2005-2008 quadrennium. ...

NBA legend Michael Jordan, partying at Jet nightclub (The Mirage). ...

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden, dining Tuesday at Nove Italiano (Palms) for the third time in four days with friends. ...

Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony and Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, dining Tuesday at N9ne steakhouse (Palms). ...

Steve Schirripa of "The Sopranos," dining at Cafe Martorano (Rio) Tuesday with Hooters headliner Bobby Slayton and fellow comedian Dom Irrera. When restaurant owner Steve Martorano played a couple clips of Schirripa in "The Sopranos," other diners stood and applauded the actor.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Fights weren't worse than what you see on 'The View.'" -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Michael Vick excuses.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.