http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2007/jun/08/060810600.html
NHL official says Las Vegas would need new arena to land team
On Friday, XM's Home Ice "War Room" hour-long segment discussed a potential move to Vegas. Some of the highlights:
The existing ECHL franchise has about 3500 in average attendance for 32 games.
A Vegas caller indicated that Vegas was mainly a "event" driven town, so that a special "one time" event may draw fans, but gettting them to 40+ "repetitive" games may be a problem. (Later caller from LA indicated that the annual pre-season game with the Kings was sold out because a lot of Kings fans make the trip as an excuse to travel to Vegas. My personal experience: I attended a week worth of games of the ECHL franchise and the one that had a opponent from four hours away was filled as they away fans flocked to see the game.)
I think this same caller indicated that many "families" avoid the Vegas Strip due to traffic (heck, even a mile off the strip is sometimes crazy, including I-15!), but that out of towners may not go to an event that is "miles" off the strip. (The ECHL franchise plays at an arena attached to an off-strip casino; they're about a mile from the I-15 on the other side away from the strip.) Also some discussion over the "city fathers"/committee that controls the "Strip" development; sounds like it could be a real hassle to get them on board/support such a new development.
If the majority of workers are the "low paid" bartenders, waitresses and dealers, how many can even afford to purchase season tickets? And what of their "standard" work shift of 5pm - midnight?
Las Vegas may have the "reverse" problem of Nashville: All the club/corporate seats will be sold, but the upper deck may be empty.
Discussion included that the NHL may have to "get in bed" with one or more casinos to drive this forward.
Concerns expressed with the "enticements" of the environment of Vegas on the players (both those who "live" there and visit). Mentioned the crazy "gang bang" atmosphere resulting from the NBA All-Star game.
Consensus from hosts was that Las Vegas would succeed only if they "relocated" a team (almost ready to win); there would be no patience for 3+ years to develop a team as an expansion team.
They also floated the idea of a "shared location" franchise. (Think "Phoenix-Las Vegas".)