Top executives with the Florida Marlins, one of several professional baseball teams reported to be interested in a new home, flew to Las Vegas and met with Mayor Oscar Goodman in his office Wednesday.
"They called me and asked if they could see me," Goodman said of the 90-minute meeting with Marlins Vice Chairman Joel Mael, the team's No. 2 executive, and P.J. Loyello, vice president of communication and broadcasting for the Miami-based team.
Goodman was tight-lipped but reaffirmed his conviction that a major sports team will land in Las Vegas sooner rather than later. "This is going to happen," he said.
Officials with the Marlins were vague when asked for specifics of what was discussed.
"Las Vegas is very interested in getting a baseball team, the Marlins are in baseball and there was an open invitation from the mayor," said Bruce Rubin, a spokesman for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. "The meeting was a social, get-to-know-you sort of meeting."
Goodman acknowledged he has felt that teams used the city for negotiating leverage in the past.
"Oftentimes, people use me to get something else, but that was not the case today," he said Wednesday. "There was no discussion about relocation."
However, both parties hinted that Wednesday's meeting was the first in a series of anticipated talks.
"All the parties seemed to get along very well together," Rubin said. "Everyone seemed to like one another, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if everyone remains in touch."
Goodman suggested he would see the Marlins officials again this weekend at the Major League Baseball winter meetings in California.
"I asked them if they were married, and if I should bring the showgirls along with me to Anaheim," the mayor said.
Rubin confirmed that he and the executives flew into Las Vegas on Tuesday night and were leaving Wednesday evening.
"The meeting with the mayor is the principal purpose for our trip," Rubin said.
Asked whether the Marlins are looking to leave Miami, Rubin said: "The Marlins are in discussions about building a stadium in Miami, and those discussions are taking much longer than anyone anticipated."
The Marlins, the Oakland Athletics, the Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are reported to be looking for new homes. The Marlins long have lobbied government officials in Florida for a new stadium, suggesting the franchise is not viable there without it.
In September, Las Vegas lost out in a bid to lure the Montreal Expos when Major League Baseball officials relocated the struggling franchise to Washington, D.C. Goodman was encouraged by reports that Las Vegas finished second in the race.
The timing of Wednesday's meeting was ideal for Goodman because it also was the day Sports Illustrated published a lengthy story on Las Vegas' prospects of getting a professional baseball or basketball team.
The tone of the overwhelmingly positive article suggested it was a matter of when, not if, Las Vegas would land a major sports franchise.
The SI story stated, "You will be able to attend an NBA or major league baseball game in Las Vegas within a decade," and included other highlights:
? Nevada is the only state with legalized sports betting, but because the business is so tightly regulated, Las Vegas might be the safest place to have a team.
? MLB president and chief operating officer Bob Dupuy acknowledged gambling is a more accepted part of society and said, "Las Vegas is one of the most attractive markets in the U.S. for a pro sports franchise."
? The Oakland Athletics were cited as the prime candidate among teams considering a move to Las Vegas.
? The growing Las Vegas population, projected to be 3 million in 10 years by one source, and the city's 36 million annual tourists make the city a viable market.
"I think it's the kind of story that has the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, but it also shows we're serious about being a major league sports town," Goodman said.
Goodman is forming a plan for a downtown stadium for the Las Vegas 51s, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The retractable-roof stadium would be expandable to accommodate a major league team, Goodman said.
City Councilman Larry Brown and 51s president Don Logan are scheduled to leave today for the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Anaheim, Calif.
"The timing of that Sports Illustrated article, the fact that it comes on the heels of the Expos issue and before this week's meetings, I am certain Las Vegas will be a hot topic of conversation relative to getting a major league team," Logan said.
"They called me and asked if they could see me," Goodman said of the 90-minute meeting with Marlins Vice Chairman Joel Mael, the team's No. 2 executive, and P.J. Loyello, vice president of communication and broadcasting for the Miami-based team.
Goodman was tight-lipped but reaffirmed his conviction that a major sports team will land in Las Vegas sooner rather than later. "This is going to happen," he said.
Officials with the Marlins were vague when asked for specifics of what was discussed.
"Las Vegas is very interested in getting a baseball team, the Marlins are in baseball and there was an open invitation from the mayor," said Bruce Rubin, a spokesman for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. "The meeting was a social, get-to-know-you sort of meeting."
Goodman acknowledged he has felt that teams used the city for negotiating leverage in the past.
"Oftentimes, people use me to get something else, but that was not the case today," he said Wednesday. "There was no discussion about relocation."
However, both parties hinted that Wednesday's meeting was the first in a series of anticipated talks.
"All the parties seemed to get along very well together," Rubin said. "Everyone seemed to like one another, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if everyone remains in touch."
Goodman suggested he would see the Marlins officials again this weekend at the Major League Baseball winter meetings in California.
"I asked them if they were married, and if I should bring the showgirls along with me to Anaheim," the mayor said.
Rubin confirmed that he and the executives flew into Las Vegas on Tuesday night and were leaving Wednesday evening.
"The meeting with the mayor is the principal purpose for our trip," Rubin said.
Asked whether the Marlins are looking to leave Miami, Rubin said: "The Marlins are in discussions about building a stadium in Miami, and those discussions are taking much longer than anyone anticipated."
The Marlins, the Oakland Athletics, the Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are reported to be looking for new homes. The Marlins long have lobbied government officials in Florida for a new stadium, suggesting the franchise is not viable there without it.
In September, Las Vegas lost out in a bid to lure the Montreal Expos when Major League Baseball officials relocated the struggling franchise to Washington, D.C. Goodman was encouraged by reports that Las Vegas finished second in the race.
The timing of Wednesday's meeting was ideal for Goodman because it also was the day Sports Illustrated published a lengthy story on Las Vegas' prospects of getting a professional baseball or basketball team.
The tone of the overwhelmingly positive article suggested it was a matter of when, not if, Las Vegas would land a major sports franchise.
The SI story stated, "You will be able to attend an NBA or major league baseball game in Las Vegas within a decade," and included other highlights:
? Nevada is the only state with legalized sports betting, but because the business is so tightly regulated, Las Vegas might be the safest place to have a team.
? MLB president and chief operating officer Bob Dupuy acknowledged gambling is a more accepted part of society and said, "Las Vegas is one of the most attractive markets in the U.S. for a pro sports franchise."
? The Oakland Athletics were cited as the prime candidate among teams considering a move to Las Vegas.
? The growing Las Vegas population, projected to be 3 million in 10 years by one source, and the city's 36 million annual tourists make the city a viable market.
"I think it's the kind of story that has the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, but it also shows we're serious about being a major league sports town," Goodman said.
Goodman is forming a plan for a downtown stadium for the Las Vegas 51s, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The retractable-roof stadium would be expandable to accommodate a major league team, Goodman said.
City Councilman Larry Brown and 51s president Don Logan are scheduled to leave today for the Major League Baseball winter meetings in Anaheim, Calif.
"The timing of that Sports Illustrated article, the fact that it comes on the heels of the Expos issue and before this week's meetings, I am certain Las Vegas will be a hot topic of conversation relative to getting a major league team," Logan said.
