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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
Nevada. First in stadiums. Last in a lot of other stuff.
Nevada lawmakers on two legislative committees picked Memorial Day of all days to stage a marathon hearing on a proposed stadium subsidy law that would authorize $380 million in public assistance to be spent on helping build a MLB Athletics ballpark on the Strip.
Supporters of the proposed government assistance for a new stadium at the Tropicana hotel-casino said it will be an economic boost, while opponents of Senate Bill 509 said there are more importance public needs and priorities that deserve government money like schools, health care and mass transportation.
Athletics consultant Jeremy Aguero was joined by his friend, LVCVA chief Steve Hill, and Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine for a three-man stadium subsidy pitch before the Senate’s finance committee and the Assembly’s ways and means committee.
Not there to answer questions during the six-hour hearing were the Athletics business leaders — owner John Fisher and team president Dave Kaval.
When it comes to spending public dollars on sports, Nevada is a buyer at a time when the state has a grim reputation for a shortchanging public needs like education, health care, public transportation and roads. “There are other needs for this money,” a bill commenter said of the proposed A’s $380 million stadium subsidy.
Aguero, Hill and Conine promoted S. B. bill 509, legislation called the “Southern Nevada Tourism Innovation Act.”
Aguero is a Las Vegas-based consultant, while Hill promotes tourism as chief of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Conine was so enthusiastic for the subsidized A’s stadium that it was difficult to figure out whether he worked for the state or for the baseball team.
Indeed, the emotions and rooting around local teams can cloud the public policy debate. It was seen Monday when state lawmakers were tracking the Vegas Golden Knights’ playoff game in Dallas while weighing the Athletics’ request for government aid to help build their proposed $1.5 billion stadium at Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue on the Strip.
Meanwhile, opponents called the stadium bill rushed and irresponsible.
“We don’t need the A’s under these circumstances,” a bill opponent said.
As Battle Born Progress put it in a Tweet, “Teachers, school support staff, state scientists, peace officers and other public servants coming together to call in and oppose #SB509 because every session they get told we don’t have enough $”
Several people said the Oakland Athletics needs Las Vegas more than Las Vegas needed the A’s.
Supporters included the usual suspects — union leaders, trades representatives and chambers of commerce presidents. They stressed the stadium construction jobs and other business development from the A’s venue.
Clark County Commission Chairman Jim Gibson also gave the stadium subsidy a thumbs up.
Hill, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO, stressed the “heads in beds” theme.
Though at a LVCVA board meeting in March, the public tourism agency cited its own study showing only six percent of Las Vegas visitors said they attended a sports event in Vegas in 2022. That was up from three percent from 2017, according to the LVCVA.
The A’s are counting on visitors to attend their proposed 30,000-seat stadium. Aguero said he projects that 70 percent of fans will be locals, while 30 percent will be out-of-towners.
Aguero/Hill,Conine presented several graphics showing economic benefits — numbers that were questioned by several state lawmakers during the hearing.
The Nevada Legislature adjourns June 5. There’s also the option of Gov. Joe Lombardo calling a special session. The A’s want to open the stadium in 2028.