NBA - Sports Rumors

Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:39 am EDT

Las Vegas aiming for NBA team

By Mark J. Miller

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is apparently spending a fair amount of time working to get an NBA team to his city, according to the Las Vegas Sun. But first he needs an arena.

The city is about to sign a deal to have a feasibility study done for a downtown 20,000-seat, $145 million arena to be built and Goodman believes that once that arena is built, the city will get a team, based on conversations Goodman has had with NBA execs. "I believe as soon as we have an arena - this is my belief, I have nothing that is signed in blood, there's no contract - but I believe we'll have a team," he said.

Goodman also said it's possible the city could get a professional hockey team. "I don't know anything about hockey," he said, laughing. "Whatever the market is gonna be, it's gonna be."

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman visited Vegas a few months back and Goodman says he's "high on Las Vegas." Sounds dangerous.

Source: Las Vegas SunNew Window

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71 Comments

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  1. demnboi123
    1. Posted by demnboi123 Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:48 am EDT

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    buy the NETS...
    1st hehehehe
  2. Carlos Boozer
    2. Posted by Carlos Boozer Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:06 am EDT

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    this wrong in many levels
  3. Carlos Boozer
    3. Posted by Carlos Boozer Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:06 am EDT

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    *is
  4. Carlos Boozer
    4. Posted by Carlos Boozer Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:07 am EDT

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    it's a bad economy though, so let's go vegas!
  5. Deano Sauve
    5. Posted by Deano Sauve Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:27 am EDT

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    Can't hurt the N.B.A. As a league it is unwatchable, boring and 99% of it's games are meaningless. This might bring some fun back to the league, alhough I doubt it. I believe what will happen is the players on the Vegas club will end up being full time litigants and part time basketball players, as the distractions of Vegas will present too many opportunities for them to get in trouble and they will end up on the wrong side of the law. Think of Pac Man Jones and All-Star weekend, but on a fulltime basis. No wonder I keep saying.....WHO CARES, THE N.B.A. SUCKS. Bring on NCAA basketball, it's fun and the kids are terrific.
  6. ttfox@...
    6. Posted by ttfox@... Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:44 am EDT

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    The thing that would scare me if there was a NBA team in Vegas is if I were a parent of a draft pick by the Vegas club. Many young pro athletes succumb to temptation and are especially vulnerable at any rate. Could you imagine if a kid fresh out of high school ended up in the glitzy desert town known for fast living? If even a rationale adult like Charles Barkley showed no discipline in Vegas, what is going to stop much younger, less worldy millionaires from making bad decisions there?
  7. Steven
    7. Posted by Steven Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:03 am EDT

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    nobody would go to the games so there is no point.
  8. Wu
    8. Posted by Wu Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:35 am EDT

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    I don't agree with the whole "temptation to get in trouble just because its Vegas". These are adults. If they want to find trouble, they can do it just as easily in any major city. The only thing significantly different is the legalized gambling (which exists in other places too). But considering a certain disgraced referree's recent alligations, it sounds like it would be impossible for the NBA to be any more corrupt than it already is, haha.
    What I do agree with is Steven - post #7. Once the initial excitement wears off, nobody in Vegas is gonna spend time going to a regular season basketball game.
  9. Ken
    9. Posted by Ken Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:49 am EDT

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    I agree with the previous post. When people talk about Vegas, the first things that come to mind are gambling and shows. Unless the vegas team is composed of the harlem globtrotters, I don't think they're going to be good enough to draw any sold out shows. People rather go walk from hotel and hotel to gamble. I could see the lobby of the new arena having slot machines and poker tables.
  10. Matt
    10. Posted by Matt Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:59 am EDT

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    Is Vegas really that much worse for a young kid than say Miami, LA, or NY?
    While I think it's a bad move....it's not cause of how the city is perceived. It's just not large enough of a city and it's doing worse than 99% of cities in the country right now with the economy.
    Now is not the time to move a team there (and expansion whould not happen now).
    Plus....with all the Donaghuey stuff going on, does the NBA really think it should touch Vegas now?
  11. The Bad Guy
    11. Posted by The Bad Guy Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:04 am EDT

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    Probably not going to happen. A friend of mine lives there and says that after all of the ghetto hood, uncivilized fans came and trashed the city for All Star weekend that the people there have already given a resounding HELL NO!
  12. zolbam213
    12. Posted by zolbam213 Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:14 am EDT

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    I'm from L.A. and all i have to say is that las vegas could have the Clippers.this is Lakers Town baby!!!
  13. Czheck
    13. Posted by Czheck Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:34 am EDT

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    lol anybody who says the nba is unwatchable is a clippers fan or worse lol
  14. Jose
    14. Posted by Jose Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:36 am EDT

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    Yeah great idea, since there is nothing to do in Vegas already.
  15. crazykilla2355
    15. Posted by crazykilla2355 Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:44 am EDT

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    the clippers, and the kings should bid for sin city.
  16. Ernest "Man of the People" E
    16. Posted by Ernest "Man of the People" E Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:54 am EDT

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    move the bobcats to las vegas
  17. mybook
    17. Posted by mybook Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:07 pm EDT

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    las vegas grizzles has a nice sound to it
  18. lakerfanzallowed
    18. Posted by lakerfanzallowed Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:16 pm EDT

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    we will see so many strippers in the stands hahaha
  19. SoCalnative1
    19. Posted by SoCalnative1 Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:19 pm EDT

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    How about......The Las Vegas Gamblers......Barkley can be the GM
  20. tandem1lv
    20. Posted by tandem1lv Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:40 pm EDT

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    Why all the bad rap about Vegas? Not all people who live here are into gambling ... in fact the tourists do more gambling. And why not give a city like LA some criticism for producing most of the pornography in the country? The professional players who get into trouble in Vegas don't live in Vegas so they are not the fruits of the city! WE HAVE DECENT GOD FEARING PEOPLE HERE TOO!!!
  21. sportsnut888
    21. Posted by sportsnut888 Fri Oct 30, 2009 12:43 pm EDT

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    Las Vegas will be a perfect city for both a NBA and NHL (NFL and MLB as well) franchise. NBA would be smart to locate a franchise in Vegas ASAP, and they can play at the Thomas and Mack Center (UNLV campus) until arena is built.
    Population of Vegas is larger than some NBA markets, and the ability of the other teams to put junkets together for their fans to enjoy a road trip with the team will be another revenue maker for the entire league. If you were going to follow your team on the road, where would you rather go, Vegas or Memphis???
    How many people will schedule a long weekend in Vegas with the idea of also getting a ticket to see an NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL etal game to root for their team while they're there? The possibilites are mind boggling.
    Add in the locals and the high rollers, and you've got a great demographic mix to support the franchises.
  22. akb24b
    22. Posted by akb24b Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:17 pm EDT

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    barkley just expressed interest in being a GM. days later they announce wanting to start a team in vegas. coincidence? i don't think so
  23. Sean M
    23. Posted by Sean M Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:27 pm EDT

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    After LeBron leaves Cleveland Vegas can have the Cav's.
  24. Matt
    24. Posted by Matt Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:33 pm EDT

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    LOL, nice one akb24b
  25. Matthew
    25. Posted by Matthew Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

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    Here's an idea...move the OKC franchise there!! Gonna end up leaving in the next 5 years anyway, so why wait...hahaha!!! OU sucks!!!

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