By ALAN SNEL
Everyone from MGM Resorts International to Howard Hughes Corp. to hotel-casino owner Derek Stevens is hitching their wagons to Las Vegas’ exploding sports property market.
Even Laborer’s Union Local 872.
The union of worker bee hardhats behind many of Las Vegas’ construction projects and a strong public supporter of the $1.9 billion Raiders’ stadium project is spending tens of thousands of dollars on building its own TV broadcast studio and partnering with teams such as the new Las Vegas Lights FC soccer team.
Local 872 hopes to open a 2,000-square-foot broadcast facility Feb. 1 to promote the Raiders stadium project, interview local leaders on construction projects and stream the content on its website or on an AM radio station, said Tommy White, the business manager and secretary-treasurer of the 2,600-member local.
Local 872 just cut a deal with the Lights soccer club to spend more than $100,000 for its own section at Cashman Field of 100 seats, including seats under shade for retired 872 members, White said.
He noted the six-figure deal also includes advertising and sponsorship components.
“Our members love soccer,” White said.
White said he considered buying space on the Lights jersey, but he noted Zappos has the front of the jersey while Findlay auto dealerships will have the back of the jersey.
Local 872 is also looking at buying a suite for 20 people at T-Mobile Arena. White said it would cost $125,000-$175,000 annually for only Vegas Golden Knights games and another $240,000-$250,000 a year for all other events at the arena.
The union has also purchased ad space along the hockey rink boards at T-Mobile Arena.
White is a member of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority board and has been a very vocal proponent for his union workers getting started on the construction work at the Raiders 65,000-seat domed stadium project. The stadium is scheduled to open in mid-2020.
White also said the Raiders are looking to build its training center in Henderson near The M hotel-casino and the Henderson executive airport.
White said his members will also be helping build the new Las Vegas 51s baseball park next to City National Arena along Pavilion Center Drive across from Downtown Summerlin and near Red Rock Resort.
LVSportsBiz.com has covered the union’s sports activities in the past, including a rally during the summer in a park in North Las Vegas.
And the local is even combining forces with local MMA legend Randy Couture, White said.
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