Fenway Sports Group, LeBron James teaming up for NBA expansion team in Las Vegas UPD Leiweke/OVG proposes another casino/arena location

[LadyStanley]

Report: Group featuring LeBron James eyes NBA team in Las Vegas

Some heavy hitters and big profiles.

Wonder if they'll join in the Robinson basketball casino/arena in plans?

Click to read more...

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Wonder where they will play. Before saying TMobile, I ask because there is a project for basketball arena thats supposedly fully funded and shovel ready. Developer's name is Jackie Robinson, I kid you not. Former NBA player too.

All Net Resort & Arena - Wikipedia

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Seattle should be the other expansion team

As part of this plan, Minnesota would move to the Central, Oklahoma City to the Southwest, and Las Vegas would push Phoenix out of the Pacific, with the Northwest Division being replaced by a new Mountain Division consisting of Denver, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Utah.

 

[OG6ix]

Vancouver should get a real chance - LV is going to be an over extended market.

 

[LadyStanley]

Another Pro Sport Gets Closer to a Las Vegas Strip Move - TheStreet

NBA spokesperson says no expansion to LV.

I'm guessing that the qualifier is "yet"

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Another Pro Sport Gets Closer to a Las Vegas Strip Move - TheStreet

NBA spokesperson says no expansion to LV.

I'm guessing that the qualifier is "yet"

Not sure how long they can say no to it. There isn't an ownership group with more clout than FSG. Especially considering its the NBA and Lebron is part of FSG

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Not sure how long they can say no to it. There isn't an ownership group with more clout than FSG. Especially considering its the NBA and Lebron is part of FSG

Wonder what would happen if Lebron is playing for another team when FSG is awarded a team in Vegas. Either he divest his share of he moves to the new team?

 

[Big Z Man 1990]

Vancouver should get a real chance - LV is going to be an over extended market.

If Vancouver is chosen over LV, then they and Seattle would go in the Northwest Division, pushing Minnesota to the Central and Oklahoma City to the Southwest

Either way, I want the NBA to tweak their regular season schedule format to put a greater emphasis on division games. Every team would play all non-division opponents twice, while teams in 5-team divisions play 7 games against each division opponent and teams in 6-team divisions play 6 games against each division opponent.

It's a good way to make divisions matter in the NBA again while keeping the existing seeding structure for the playoffs.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Vancouver should get a real chance - LV is going to be an over extended market.

I agree with this but sadly I can't see Vancouver replacing either Seattle or Vegas.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

Vancouver should get a real chance - LV is going to be an over extended market.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an ownership group or person with the pockets along with the Canucks to make a compelling expansion bid. I think relocation is the only legitimate path for Vancouver to get a team again.

 

[OG6ix]

Yeah the ownership group is the issue. Apparently the mayor of Vancouver is working on getting NBA and MLB. Same in Montreal there are groups for MLB and NBA. Canada could support two teams in both leagues to be honest. Montreal and Vancouver are larger than many US markets including Las Vegas which is about to be over extended as a sports market if they get a MLB team.

 

[LadyStanley]

While the population of greater Clark County (aka Las Vegas valley, etc.) is about 2.5m (and growing), there are also 42m or so annual visitors.

Adding a MLB team would increase "summer" (and spring/early fall) visitors.

 

[oknazevad]

Wonder where they will play. Before saying TMobile, I ask because there is a project for basketball arena thats supposedly fully funded and shovel ready. Developer's name is Jackie Robinson, I kid you not. Former NBA player too.


All Net Resort & Arena - Wikipedia

Lots of skepticism about that proposal. Even the latest supposed full-funding doesn't seem to actually have anything to it. As in, no one has ever heard of the supposed backer. See https://www.casino.org/vitalvegas/o...net-resort-financing-are-piling-steam-of-b-s/

If and when the NBA gives a team to Vegas, they'll go to T-Mobile.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Lots of skepticism about that proposal. Even the latest supposed full-funding doesn't seem to actually have anything to it. As in, no one has ever heard of the supposed backer. See https://www.casino.org/vitalvegas/o...net-resort-financing-are-piling-steam-of-b-s/

If and when the NBA gives a team to Vegas, they'll go to T-Mobile.

I think you are right. I read that after I posted.

If they actually put shovel in the ground though, its an interesting convo to have.

 

[Mightygoose]

Perhaps this is the project to be the catalyst for the NBA's arrival?



They won't have to juggle dates around being at T-Mobile.....if they build it, will they come?

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Perhaps this is the project to be the catalyst for the NBA's arrival?



They won't have to juggle dates around being at T-Mobile.....if they build it, will they come?

New 20,000-seat arena, hotel, and casino announced for Las Vegas

According to a post on the company’s Twitter page, the development will be a “multi-purpose Retail & Entertainment district south of the Las Vegas strip that will include a 20,000-…

www.8newsnow.com

Ha, just came to post this as well. Certainly adds a can of gas to the NBA to Vegas fire.

Location is a little tough though, the intersection they're building at is a few blocks south of what's considered the end of the strip (Mandalay Bay and the 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign). It's far enough that it's on the other side of McCarran Airport and the 215.

Where they're at though, I do think the size of the hotel and casino will be limited by the flight paths into McCarran, as you can see the piece of land is pretty dead in line with the approach and runways

Blue Diamond Rd & Las Vegas Blvd S · Enterprise, Nevada 89123, USA

Kreuzung

www.google.com

 

[LadyStanley]

And Tim Leiweke/Oak View Group is heading the group looking to build south of Strip

 

[Voight]

Perhaps this is the project to be the catalyst for the NBA's arrival?



They won't have to juggle dates around being at T-Mobile.....if they build it, will they come?

I believe so, unless Silver is an idiot. People can say the market would be saturated but the NBA will do just fine there. & if there LBJ ownership share rumors become reality, really can't see Silver saying no with the face of the league asking.

New 20,000-seat arena, hotel, and casino announced for Las Vegas

According to a post on the company’s Twitter page, the development will be a “multi-purpose Retail & Entertainment district south of the Las Vegas strip that will include a 20,000-…

www.8newsnow.com

Ha, just came to post this as well. Certainly adds a can of gas to the NBA to Vegas fire.

Location is a little tough though, the intersection they're building at is a few blocks south of what's considered the end of the strip (Mandalay Bay and the 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign). It's far enough that it's on the other side of McCarran Airport and the 215.

Where they're at though, I do think the size of the hotel and casino will be limited by the flight paths into McCarran, as you can see the piece of land is pretty dead in line with the approach and runways

Blue Diamond Rd & Las Vegas Blvd S · Enterprise, Nevada 89123, USA

Kreuzung

www.google.com

Unless they go below ground like the Rams did with SoFi

 

[Cynicaps]

I believe so, unless Silver is an idiot. People can say the market would be saturated but the NBA will do just fine there. & if there LBJ ownership share rumors become reality, really can't see Silver saying no with the face of the league asking.

A Vegas NBA team will have barely any TV territory of its own. I don't see the LA teams giving an inch of California, the Suns giving up an inch of Arizona, or the Jazz giving up an inch of their current territory to a Vegas team and I can see the Kings fighting to keep Reno.

Is it all worth it with a miniscule TV market potential AND having to hinge on tourism to get it to truly work?

 

[Voight]

A Vegas NBA team will have barely any TV territory of its own. I don't see the LA teams giving an inch of California, the Suns giving up an inch of Arizona, or the Jazz giving up an inch of their current territory to a Vegas team and I can see the Kings fighting to keep Reno.

Is it all worth it with a miniscule TV market potential AND having to hinge on tourism to get it to truly work?

The locals embraced the GK so I don't see why they wouldn't do the same for the NBA, besides LV is a huge basketball town - just look at the Runnin Rebels (mores specifically during Tark's era but still).

 

[Cynicaps]

The locals embraced the GK so I don't see why they wouldn't do the same for the NBA, besides LV is a huge basketball town - just look at the Runnin Rebels (mores specifically during Tark's era but still).

Golden Knights had the advantage of being first to the market for one. Remember when Vegas was written off as a hockey market during the vagabond later days of the ECHL's Wranglers? There is also the situation that the Golden Knights were extremely good out of the gate which helped matters a ton.

My main concerns about the NBA in Vegas is that it would have a LOT of competition between the Golden Knights, Raiders, UNLV athletics, plus the scores of non-sports entertainment that exists in the city. Tourism helps but there's the truth that Vegas as a market where people live isn't as big as people make it out to be. And this is before MLS and MLB get involved!

Also, as I mentioned, in terms of TV territory Vegas would only probably be guaranteed the southern half of Nevada; in contrast the Golden Knights got most of the Intermountain west save Colorado. In terms of population and size that isn't much and would hinder any sort of big TV deal because the lack of eyeballs there. I see the Jazz/Suns/Lakers/Clippers/Sacramento Kings being a lot more protective of their TV territory than the LA Kings/Ducks/Coyotes/Avalanche were.

Do you want a repeat of 1970s Atlanta or 1990s Miami when a market grows too fast? Go to Vegas.
Personally, I think going for a Louisville or Kansas City would be a better move. Both have buildings even if UofL would raise a stink for the former and city government has done everything to inhibit a tenant for the latter.

 

[LadyStanley]

Majority of Nevada population (2/3rds) in Clark County. I could see them getting Idaho and Montana perhaps.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Majority of Nevada population (2/3rds) in Clark County. I could see them getting Idaho and Montana perhaps.

They might be able to carve out Southwest Utah as well being only 90 ish minutes away

 

[Voight]

Golden Knights had the advantage of being first to the market for one. Remember when Vegas was written off as a hockey market during the vagabond later days of the ECHL's Wranglers? There is also the situation that the Golden Knights were extremely good out of the gate which helped matters a ton.

My main concerns about the NBA in Vegas is that it would have a LOT of competition between the Golden Knights, Raiders, UNLV athletics, plus the scores of non-sports entertainment that exists in the city. Tourism helps but there's the truth that Vegas as a market where people live isn't as big as people make it out to be. And this is before MLS and MLB get involved!

Also, as I mentioned, in terms of TV territory Vegas would only probably be guaranteed the southern half of Nevada; in contrast the Golden Knights got most of the Intermountain west save Colorado. In terms of population and size that isn't much and would hinder any sort of big TV deal because the lack of eyeballs there. I see the Jazz/Suns/Lakers/Clippers/Sacramento Kings being a lot more protective of their TV territory than the LA Kings/Ducks/Coyotes/Avalanche were.

Do you want a repeat of 1970s Atlanta or 1990s Miami when a market grows too fast? Go to Vegas.
Personally, I think going for a Louisville or Kansas City would be a better move. Both have buildings even if UofL would raise a stink for the former and city government has done everything to inhibit a tenant for the latter.

This is the NBA were talking about after all. Yes, the GK were the first show in town but the NBA has a bigger fanbase and is much more popular, I really don't see fan support being an issue out of the gate.

As someone who has ties to Louisville I couldn't agree more. I have said for a while a team would do great there.

 

[Cynicaps]

They might be able to carve out Southwest Utah as well being only 90 ish minutes away

I don't think that the Jazz will give up an inch of rights to Utah. Even if it's much closer to Vegas.

There's a good chunk of Virginia closer to Raleigh than DC which is out of market for the Canes including one county in the Raleigh-Durham DMA. There's precedent.