Stupid Vegas Question
 

Believe me, I'm serious.<BR><BR>Over the last few years I travelled alot. I came up with a few unanswered questions that are met only with responses like &quot;Wow..I never noticed that&quot;, &quot;You're right, that is strange&quot;. SO I'll pst them here and see what my smart fellow Fodorites say. Here goes...<BR><BR>How come Las Vegas does not have a pro-sports team? As I understand, Vegas is the largest city to not have a big-4 (baseball, football, basketball, or hockey) team.<BR><BR>The reponses that I heard are...<BR><BR>1. There is too much of a mob influence there. I say to that, &quot;and there isn't in NY&quot;.<BR><BR>2. When a game is on it means there are 50,000 less people pulling the slot machines. Maybe??<BR><BR>What are your ideas?

Because sports betting is legal in NV. No one wants any hassle/controversy of a major pro team.

The mob does not live there anymore.

Good question. <BR>I would think that any sport played outdoors in the summer (baseball, soccer, early football season) would be OUT due to the heat. Even at night, it is still well over 80 in Vegas, and the heat is very difficult for people who aren't used to it, such as visiting teams. <BR><BR>Since there aren't many large indoor arenas (UNLV's Thomas &amp; Mack is the only one I'm aware of), a basketball or hockey team would have to build a facility. Maybe the locals are just happier watchng LA teams on cable?

The 4 professional leagues have it in their charter not to have teams in states that allow betting on sports. Nothing to do with weather or the mob. This is still left over from the old days when there was mob influence and the leagues were affraid of possible problems.

If it's in their charter, wouldn't that include New Jersey (Atlantic City). A few of those &quot;New York&quot; teams (i.e. Jets) play in New Jersey. Is that a loophole because they just play in New Jersey? Just curious.

There's no sports betting in Atlantic City (at least not in the 4 pro sports)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think AC casinos have Sportsbook.

Nevada IS the only state in the union that allows legal sports betting. I was told by some folks who own businesses in Vegas that there has been a lot of interest (in getting pro teams) but the sports betting is the issue. The weather is not as Phoenix has a baseball team-you just need a fancy schmancy air conditioned transparent domed stadium with a pool in the bleachers and it seems almost every team is getting something like that these days.

Every time the team loses mafia would have to eliminate them?

With the sorry state of the business side of sports today, with the exception of football, trust me, owner's would get past the betting issue in a hurry if it helped the value of their sport. With the internet, the reality is that sports betting can take place anywhere.<BR><BR>I think there are several issues. Foremost, is the likely lack of a local buyer with deep pockets that would be willing to finance the purchase and relocation of a team. Guys like Steve Wynne and Sheldon Adelson have their money elsewhere, namely their own casinos. The Maloof brothers, who own the Palms, already own the Sacramento Kings, and the corportate sports team owners are mostly sellers right now (Disney, Time Warner, etc.) Some leagues also have direct prohibitions on cross ownership of casinos and teams, which in Vegas, also limits the potential owner pool.<BR><BR>I think you would also face major hurdles in getting the city/county to kick in stadium funding. (Look at the fight they have had over getting the monorail built.) Other cities can claim to need a team for prominence reasons and justify the cost, in part, by the revenue the stadium generates from regional visitors to their town. Vegas doesn't have those issues. <BR><BR>The bottom line is that if the casinos felt that a sports team would help their business, Vegas would have one already. Clearly, they don't see the need.

Ryan,<BR>You are so way off the mark, it's not even funny. Let's take the one owner that you mentioned, why couldn't he just move the team to Vegas. Vegas is the fastest growing city in US, so I'm sure the locals would be thrilled to have a team. These hotels could put a deal together in minutes for a new stadium, as they would also be thrilled to have a pro team associated with the city. Some hotels built a 50K arenas primarly for boxing, so you think they couldn't built a mult-purpose stadium that would match the greatness of the place? Get the facts.<BR>Again, it's just a simple fact that the major leagues decided years ago not to have a team in a state where betting on sports is allowed LEGALLY.

Hey AA,<BR>If I'm &quot;so way off the mark&quot; why isn't Vegas the new home of one of the two NBA franchises that moved in the last two years or even being mentioned as the potential home for the Montreal Expos. The Phoenix Cardinals may also be looking for a new home.<BR><BR>You asecertion that boxing matches are proof that sports will work from the casinos perspective is flat out incorrect. A major prize fight with a well known name like De La Hoya takes place just a few times a year. They are events that draw people into town. You're not going to draw significant out-of-town crowds for one of 81 home baseball games or 40 basketball or hockey games.<BR><BR>The sport that would work best for the casinos, football, is the one that is least likely to move a team there because of the gambling issue.<BR><BR>However, if I'm wrong, we'll know soon as the Wall Street Journal recently reported that close to 20 professional sports teams are for sale. If you're right, surely one of them will move to Vegas.

Ryan,<BR>Can you read? I'm the one that said that there will be NO pro teams in Vegas because of the legal sportsbook. You said it was more of a economical barrier. My answer to you was that this had nothing to do with finances, that the only reason is still the fact the the major leagues will not place a team in a state where sportsbook is allowed. You come back and do a reverse on me, now you're saying what I was saying from the start. You also said that if I'm right one of the teams will be in Vegas soon????When did I say that??? Read my posts. I'm saying it will NOT happen because of the legal betting. Please don't change my views for me. <BR>Thank You!