kolko
04-15-2005, 08:21 PM
Vegas hopes to host '07 NBA All-Star game
April 15, 2005
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- NBA officials have visited sites that would be used for All-Star weekend if the nation's gambling capital is able to land the event in 2007.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is planning to bid for the event, and NBA representatives were in town on Thursday to check out possible venues, authority president Rossi Ralenkotter said.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Las Vegas casinos would have to agree not to take bets on the game in order for the city to host the league's showcase event.
`I spoke to all the big casino owners and they are excited about it coming here, and there was no hesitancy on their part to take the game off the books,'' Mayor Oscar Goodman said.
Ralenkotter said NBA and LVCVA officials, along with the Maloof family, have been discussing the possibility in recent weeks. The Maloofs own the Palms hotel-casino and the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
The game would be played at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center. Other All-Star week activities could be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Mandalay Bay Convention Center and the Sands Expo Center, Ralenkotter said.
NBA officials visited all of those sites on Thursday, he said.
Link (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-all-star-lasvegas&prov=ap&type=lgns)
April 15, 2005
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- NBA officials have visited sites that would be used for All-Star weekend if the nation's gambling capital is able to land the event in 2007.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is planning to bid for the event, and NBA representatives were in town on Thursday to check out possible venues, authority president Rossi Ralenkotter said.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Las Vegas casinos would have to agree not to take bets on the game in order for the city to host the league's showcase event.
`I spoke to all the big casino owners and they are excited about it coming here, and there was no hesitancy on their part to take the game off the books,'' Mayor Oscar Goodman said.
Ralenkotter said NBA and LVCVA officials, along with the Maloof family, have been discussing the possibility in recent weeks. The Maloofs own the Palms hotel-casino and the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
The game would be played at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center. Other All-Star week activities could be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Mandalay Bay Convention Center and the Sands Expo Center, Ralenkotter said.
NBA officials visited all of those sites on Thursday, he said.
Link (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-all-star-lasvegas&prov=ap&type=lgns)