Group plans sports arena

Las Vegas might not have a major league sports franchise, but it could have two arenas capable of housing one.

Anschutz Entertainment Group will announce today plans to build an arena that could house either a National Basketball Association or National Hockey League team. AEG is expected to partner with Harrah's Entertainment on the project, which could be built on property owned by Harrah's behind Bally's.

Last month, Las Vegas threw its support behind Real Estate Interests Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., to build a 22,000-seat arena on land it had acquired bordering North Main Street and West Charleston Boulevard.

The arena is part of a $9.5 billion project that would include a hotel and casino, housing, offices, bars, restaurants and shops. REI Neon hopes to have the arena part of the project completed by 2010.

A spokesman for Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Goodman did not want to comment on the proposal until he had more information on it.

AEG did not submit a request for proposal to the city. Instead, it chose to partner with a private company in Harrah's on the project. AEG officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday on their plans for a Las Vegas arena, and Harrah's officials declined comment.

AEG has a proven track record when it comes to arena and stadium projects. The group has built the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, which is home to the NHL's Kings, which AEG owns, and the NBA's Lakers and Clippers.

The group also built the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., which is a soccer and tennis facility and is home to Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA.

Also, AEG is putting the finishing touches on the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., which will open in October and seat 18,630 for basketball and 17,297 for hockey. The group also is overseeing the construction of a soccer-exclusive stadium in Harrison, N.J., for the New York Red Bulls of MLS.

AEG has a track record in Las Vegas, operating Caesars Palace's Colosseum, which opened in 2003 and has been home to entertainer Celine Dion's show, "A New Day."

Both NBA and NHL officials said they will monitor AEG's plan.