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Mayor Goodman Guarantees Vegas Will Get NBA Team

”Goodman has tried for years to lure an NBA team to Las Vegas, though the city's legal sports betting is just one of several reasons why he hasn't been successful yet.

”The mayor's current term expires in June 2003. Goodman said if he seeks and wins re-election, then it won't be long before his administration is welcoming the NBA's `Las Vegas Whatevers,' as he calls them, to town.

”…According to the mayor, NBA Commissioner David Stern would be willing to accept an NBA variation of a now-defunct rule designed for University of Nevada-Las Vegas sports. The rule allowed casinos to accept college basketball bets, but none involving UNLV.

”…Goodman has an ally in the Maloof family, which owns the NBA's Sacramento Kings and recently opened the Palms hotel and casino in Las Vegas. The Palms doesn't take bets on NBA games.

”…Goodman said he thinks he can convince officials at the Nevada Gaming Control Board to resurrect the UNLV rule, which they scrapped earlier this year.

”…Goodman also faces opposition from the state's gaming lobby, which opposes getting a team because it would encourage people to do something other than gamble at casinos.

”…Even though the gaming lobby is opposed to getting a team in town, others in the industry are willing to at least listen to what the mayor has to say.

”…While specifics of an arena plan still need to be worked out, Goodman said no taxpayer money would be used in its construction, although the city might give prospective owners the land to build on.

”A Las Vegas-based team would get about $300 million over 20 years in a naming rights agreement -- more than enough to build the arena, Goodman said…”

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