Las Vegas Events, which "promotes and organizes events in the Sin City market, paid $75,000 to sponsor the recent NBA Summer League and also invested resources as a partner in putting on this week’s USA Basketball event," according to Alan Snel of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Las Vegas Events President Pat Christenson said that the "value of the national media attention focused on the NBA Summer League was worth five times what his agency spent on the $75,000 sponsorship." He added that Las Vegas Events "began the first year of a four-year agreement to be a partner of USA Basketball ... for mini-camp workouts and a practice game" at UNLV. When asked how much his organization is spending on USA Basketball, he responded by saying that it is a "break-even deal for Las Vegas Events." But the company's Summer League sponsorship is "hardly a major cash expenditure compared to previous payments to groups staging sports and entertainment events." Among the payments in '11 were $850,000 for a NASCAR banquet; $325,000 to USA Sevens Rugby; and $250,000 to the Las Vegas Marathon. IRS data shows that Las Vegas Events cash grants "totaled about $6.2 million out of total revenues of about $20.1 million." The Summer League games' attendance "hit 62,128, an average of 5,648 per day." Sports marketer Albert Hall said that represents "about a 10 percent increase from 2012" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/26).
DOES THE FORMAT NEED FIXING? In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin reported the Summer League format is "receiving mixed reviews," and is "open to review." Summer League Exec VP & Founder Warren LeGarie has "turned this event into required-viewing for the 30 NBA teams." He said that he is "continuing to elicit opinions and isn't locked into the tournament format" (SACBEE.com, 7/23).
