A proposal to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas was sent to NBA commissioner David Stern today. Stern has long been opposed to such an expansion if gambling is allowed. He ok'd the All-Star game this year because the city agreed to take the game off of all sports books. The proposal did not include such an exception and unless Stern has a change of heart, has little chance of succeeding.
My opinion is that Las Vegas isn't a good candidate for a professional sports team. This year's NBA All-Star game fiasco aside, I can't see a team being successful on many fronts in Vegas. First, there is just too much going on to make it a big enough draw. Second, only "big" games will bring in reasonable crowds to generate the needed revenues of running a pro sports team. Lastly, Vegas is not the place for immature overpaid athletes. Unless a team of Shane Battier's were fronted, I foresee a Las Vegas team becoming the next Cincinatti Bengals. This is a reference to the frequent arrests the Bengals' players have been involved with recently.
The Maloof brothers (the Palms and Sacramento King's owners) recently said they were in favor of an NBA team being hosted in Las Vegas. (the assumption here is that their favor equates to them believing a team can thrive there) They certainly have a better business sense than I do, but this is one idea that I have to see to believe. It just doesn't seem wise as an owner, player, nor a fan.
Read about the proposal here.
(Edit: Mayor Goodman maintains that NBA games will stay on the board, even those of a potential local franchise. Yeah, the NBA in Vegas is not going to happen. Read about it here.)
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