Stern Not Planning To Hear More On Goodman’s Vegas Proposal

Goodman Not Invited To NBA Owners Meetings

NBA Commissioner David Stern said he did not invite Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman to address league owners at the BOG meeting next Friday in N.Y., according to Steve Carp of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Goodman last week sent a proposal to the league to bring a team to the city, and Stern said, “I think that the letter and our relationship are self-explanatory.” Goodman was “not offended by the snub.” Goodman: “The good news is it’s on their agenda and it will be discussed among the owners whether or not there’ll be a team in Las Vegas under the conditions I outlined.” Goodman’s proposal “basically said the city would not stray from the status quo and ask sports books to take league games off the betting boards.” Asked to respond to the proposal, Stern said, “I’d really rather be in a position to discuss that with my owners and make my recommendations for the first time to the owners.” Meanwhile, Goodman said that he has been “meeting with potential investors” on a new arena and that “requests for proposals on the arena will go out April 20 with a response due within 90 days” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/13).

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: In Las Vegas, Benjamin Spillman reports the number of Las Vegas visitors during February rose 1.3% to about 3 million for a month that included “high-profile events such as the All-Star Game and Chinese New Year.” Occupancy in the Las Vegas Valley’s more than 133,000 hotel rooms was “virtually flat,” increasing from 90.2% to 90.3%. However, the average room price rose nearly 13% from last year to about $136 per night, “the largest increase among the statistics released” by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/13).