City Council considers sports arena pact

Next week, the Las Vegas City Council is set to talk about bringing a sports arena and related development to 18 acres of city-owned land downtown.

The council could approve what's known as an "exclusive negotiating agreement" with Cordish Co., which has developed arenas and entertainment districts in other cities.

It means that the city would deal only with Cordish in arena talks until the agreement expires. The city has been courting Cordish for some time to build downtown.

The agreement is not a deal to actually start construction, city spokesman Jace Radke said. Cordish would study the development's feasibility.

"It basically locks up the land," Radke said. "They can only negotiate with this company for this land until the agreement expires."

The land at issue includes 12 city-owned acres bounded by Las Vegas Boulevard, Stewart Avenue, Eighth Street and U.S. Highway 95. It would also include the six acres at Las Vegas Boulevard and Stewart currently occupied by City Hall.

Cordish is to study the possibility of building a professional sports arena, a live entertainment district and a hotel-casino, Radke said.

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.