NBA to expand to Las Vegas? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

troutman · 02-14-2007, 03:20 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ing/index.html

NBA commissioner David Stern has asked Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman to come up with a compromise on sports betting, SI.com has learned. It is the strongest signal yet of the NBA's intention to place a team in Las Vegas.

Stern concluded the meeting by telling the mayor that "the ball is in your court." He asked Goodman to bring forth his idea for a compromise that both the NBA and Nevada sports books could live with.

The obvious compromise would be a form of the old UNLV rule, in which the Vegas sports books would agree to take games involving the local NBA team off their boards -- though wagers on other NBA games would be permitted.

Would the NHL consider Vegas now too?

Flames in 07 · 02-14-2007, 06:48 PM

It has in the past. There were a couple minority flames owners (who are now not part of the ownership) that were looking at moving this team to Houston or Vegas.

ricoFlame · 02-14-2007, 06:56 PM

not convinced that vegas is a major league pro sports town...there's too much other stuff to do there.

Flames in 07 · 02-14-2007, 07:04 PM

I think basketball will work there, I can't see other major working there. But Vegas as a location for an allstar game is perfect.

ricoFlame · 02-14-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

I think basketball will work there, I can't see other major working there. But Vegas as a location for an allstar game is perfect.

yeah, an all star game for sure. when it's a spectacle it'll sell out in vegas. not for the long term though.

kipperfan · 02-14-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

not convinced that vegas is a major league pro sports town...there's too much other stuff to do there.

I disagree...in fact I think it is just the opposite. Once one pro sport moves there...and it will happen...the other 3 major leagues will be following close behind.

I think there couldnt possibly be a better scenario for a pro sports team acctually. The team would never have ownership issues, would probably play in one of the best stadiums in the league.....and of course on top of the half a million full time residents there would be thousands and thousands of tourists in the city everyday, and you have to believe one of these big Casino's would do a better job selling the NHL/NBA then the acctual leagues could ever dream of doing.

Vegas is a entertainment town...its just such a great fit IMO. The only sport I would be skeptical about would be baseball...simple because of the amount of games and the fact there are alot of weekend day games...which wouldnt jive well with the Vegas schedule. But in Vegas....at night.....people want to be entertained...they would be lining up for tix.

On top of all of this....how many seasons tickets would each casino buy for their big clients to use, promotions...?

I just think it will work very well....anxoius to see what happens.

Flames in 07 · 02-14-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

I disagree...in fact I think it is just the opposite. Once one pro sport moves there...and it will happen...the other 3 major leagues will be following close behind.

I think there couldnt possibly be a better scenario for a pro sports team acctually. The team would never have ownership issues, would probably play in one of the best stadiums in the league.....and of course on top of the half a million full time residents there would be thousands and thousands of tourists in the city everyday, and you have to believe one of these big Casino's would do a better job selling the NHL/NBA then the acctual leagues could ever dream of doing.

Vegas is a entertainment town...its just such a great fit IMO. The only sport I would be skeptical about would be baseball...simple because of the amount of games and the fact there are alot of weekend day games...which wouldnt jive well with the Vegas schedule. But in Vegas....at night.....people want to be entertained...they would be lining up for tix.

On top of all of this....how many seasons tickets would each casino buy for their big clients to use, promotions...?

I just think it will work very well....anxoius to see what happens.

Well, pigs will fly, hell will freeze over and Roloson will stop whining when the NFL moves there. That city and the NFL do not get along at all.

Baseball requires selling 2.5 million tickets a year, without a dedicated fan base that would be tough. The area is growing which is good, but the area doesn't feel big enough.

ricoFlame · 02-14-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

I disagree...in fact I think it is just the opposite. Once one pro sport moves there...and it will happen...the other 3 major leagues will be following close behind.

I think there couldnt possibly be a better scenario for a pro sports team acctually. The team would never have ownership issues, would probably play in one of the best stadiums in the league.....and of course on top of the half a million full time residents there would be thousands and thousands of tourists in the city everyday, and you have to believe one of these big Casino's would do a better job selling the NHL/NBA then the acctual leagues could ever dream of doing.

Vegas is a entertainment town...its just such a great fit IMO. The only sport I would be skeptical about would be baseball...simple because of the amount of games and the fact there are alot of weekend day games...which wouldnt jive well with the Vegas schedule. But in Vegas....at night.....people want to be entertained...they would be lining up for tix.

On top of all of this....how many seasons tickets would each casino buy for their big clients to use, promotions...?

I just think it will work very well....anxoius to see what happens.

Hey, it could happen. but i don't think that too many high rollers are going to take seats to see the Las vegas whatevers host the utah jazz. it's nice to have tickets sold to the big casinos, but it's nicer to have people there who actually care about the team and are there for every game.

It would be a very different situation without a doubt, and i supose that it may work on some levels, but it would be the wierdest situation in pro sports.

i suppose that's the beauty of vegas though...there's nothing else quite like it.

Antithesis · 02-14-2007, 08:24 PM

I can see a basketball team in Las Vegas a lot more than I can see any of the other major sports. It may sound completely stupid, but the whole 'aura' of basketball really fits with the whole aura of the Las Vegas area. I would be really interested to see how this would play out.

I don't see baseball being successful there ... football probably would never go there due to huge conflicts with the gambling industry but I've been wrong before and I certainly will be again. I kind of worry that the NHL would see success in the NBA and assume that it would mean the city is ready for more pro sports when it really was only ready for the NBA.

Julio · 02-15-2007, 12:08 AM

NBA basketball has of course already been played in Vegas, with the Jazz playing some games there in the early/mid 80's, shortly after the move to Salt Lake. Not sure what rules were in place then about gambling and such.
As far as a team moving to Vegas? I don't know if it would do well in the long term. Trying to sell the team to people coming to Vegas is a pretty dicey proposition in a sport where you need 41 good sized houses a year. UNLV, the local college team doesn't do much more than half fill the Thomas and Mack Center.

browna · 02-15-2007, 12:17 AM

Yeah, if any major sport goes there first, it is basketball. Just the right type of crowd, and the right type or marketing to showcase basketball there.

The city is growing huge..but the weather would be a big factor certainly for baseball (unless a dome was built) and the NFL...well, a ways away.
Although, if LA keeps shooting itself in the foot, Vegas only 4 or so hours away could be an alternative there too.

But the marketing in the arena and the ability to market and promote individual players as stars (soemthing Vegas can do in spades) is accomplished a lot easier in basketball.

burn_baby_burn · 02-15-2007, 05:59 PM

The corporate sponsorship from the casino's would be huge. Unless the NBA or NHL has problems or rules against that.

I had heard in the past that the mayor of Las Vegas had told the NHL that they have wanted a team for some time.

Resolute 14 · 02-15-2007, 06:28 PM

If the NHL goes to Vegas, I will be on the plane for the first road trip the Flames have down there.

Fly down, go to a Flames game, drop $20 on black in Caesars Palace, go home. Hell of a weekend trip.

kipperfan · 02-15-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julio

NBA basketball has of course already been played in Vegas, with the Jazz playing some games there in the early/mid 80's, shortly after the move to Salt Lake. Not sure what rules were in place then about gambling and such.
As far as a team moving to Vegas? I don't know if it would do well in the long term. Trying to sell the team to people coming to Vegas is a pretty dicey proposition in a sport where you need 41 good sized houses a year. UNLV, the local college team doesn't do much more than half fill the Thomas and Mack Center.

Difference would be not only are we talking about pro sports, we are also more then likely talking about a arena located on or very near the strip...which would change everything.

Flames in 07 · 02-15-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Difference would be not only are we talking about pro sports, we are also more then likely talking about a arena located on or very near the strip...which would change everything.

UNLV is barely off the strip. You won't get any closer. That arguement may work for football (even though that stadium isn't far)

SpitFire40 · 02-15-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

not convinced that vegas is a major league pro sports town...there's too much other stuff to do there.

Yes and no... if you're a local the casino life has to get boring.

kipperfan · 02-15-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

UNLV is barely off the strip. You won't get any closer. That arguement may work for football (even though that stadium isn't far)

My bad...I was thinking about the football stadium...and I thought(been a while) that it was a ways off the strip.

OilersBaby · 02-15-2007, 11:40 PM

That's interesting that they're considering it. I know that the Maloof Brothers (who used to own Sacramento Kings, not sure if they still do) were considering moving the Kings franchise there a few years ago, esp since they owned the hotel Palms there....they were considering have a bball court at that hotel or one of the other ones. I think it would definately work because sooo many people are in Vegas, regardless of day of week, month of the year, etc.