UNLV "received an offer" from MGM Resorts to help build its proposed 60,000-seat UNLV Now stadium project before the school "ditched" Majestic Realty as its private partner for the venue, according to Alan Snel of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. MGM Resorts, which "unveiled plans for a 20,000-seat arena just off the Strip four weeks ago, suggested that UNLV transfer events from its Thomas & Mack Center to the new MGM venue." In return, MGM would provide "meaningful support" for the proposed stadium, and "asked for a noncompete agreement." The deal would "allow the university to keep" basketball games and kids events at Thomas & Mack Center "while surrendering 15 to 40 events such as concerts each year to MGM’s arena." But UNLV College of Hotel Administration Dean and UNLV Now project head Don Snyder said that he had "no knowledge of an MGM offer." He added that the school "dumped Majestic Realty so that it could work directly with Las Vegas’ 'Big 6' hotel-casino owners -- MGM, Las Vegas Sands, Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts -- and the entire resort industry." MGM Resorts VP/Public Affairs Gordon Absher said any suggestion his company would tie support to a stadium to events that would move to its new arena was "offensive and ridiculous" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/29). Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Paul Takahashi writes under the header, "Why UNLV's Decision To Drop Partner In Stadium Project Could Be Risky" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 3/29).
