Suggested plans aim to attract events to fill the Raiders' 65,000-seat stadium on non-game daysRAIDERS
A group tasked with "determining ways to draw to Las Vegas special sporting events" has recommended that tourism officials and proposed ad hoc committees "split efforts to attract events," according to Regina Cano of the AP. The plan developed by the Southern Nevada Sporting Event Committee is "aimed at helping efforts" to fill the Raiders' 65,000-seat, partially tax-funded stadium that is set to open in '20. The recommendations "will now go to Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval." The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority "would be the lead agency in bids for large-scale events" such as the NFL Draft and Super Bowl. The nonprofit Las Vegas Events "would head efforts to attract amateur, youth and other events" (AP, 12/13). In Las Vegas, Richard Velotta notes the recommendations came hours after the NFL announced yesterday that the '20 Draft "would be staged in Las Vegas." Draft festivities "were one of the big events the committee was hoping to attract to the city as a boost to tourism." The committee in recommending split efforts reasoned that "some special event bids could overlap, such as trying to attract a Super Bowl at the same time as an NCAA Basketball Final Four event, and the new plan would allow a group to focus on one event while another committee handles the other" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/13).
