A senior figure in a casino group in favour of the new NFL American football venue in Las Vegas has hit back at critics of the project.
Two groups have come forward to oppose the 65,000-seat Las Vegas arena that could be the new home ground of the Raiders franchise, which could leave Oakland for Nevada.
The Stadium Business reported yesterday that the Nevadans for the Common Good (NCG) and Nevada Taxpayers Association groups had raised concerns about finance and the use of public funds and whether it would serve the interests of the local community.
However, Jan Jones Blackhurst, senior vice-president of communications and government affairs for Caesars Entertainment, speaking on behalf of the Nevada Resort Association (NRA) which backs the project, said many of the criticisms have already been answered.
She said: “I don’t think there will be any operating losses because there are so many different uses for this facility: soccer games, exhibition games, UNLV games, Raiders games, concerts, boxing matches. But let’s say that there was a problem. Sheldon (Adelson) has said he would assume that responsibility."
As for the Raiders’ propensity for moving, Blackhurst said the committee plans to sign the team to a lease that is at least as long as the bond obligation — 33 years — so there’s no reason to believe the team would leave without paying its share.
“I continue to be surprised at some of the public response to what very clearly is a community arena,” Blackhurst said. “People forget that we have not had a major investment in Las Vegas tourism infrastructure in almost a decade.”
Share this