Sports in Vegas a possibility

By Nick Pinkerton

There's always talk about the possibility of a professional sports team in Las Vegas.

With the way ownership around the sports world is struggling, sports needs a face-lift that will encourage people to spend their money.

It's about time we stop imagining. Let's roll the dice and put this dream into action.

Professional sports championships in the West seem to come once every passing of Halley's Comet. However, a team in Vegas could result in one of the dominant franchises in the country.

First of all, are there any professional athletes who would not want to earn millions of dollars playing and living in Vegas? Free agents, veterans and rookies alike would put in the effort to turn Sin City into Win City. More wins lead to higher salaries. Championship-caliber teams attract better players. Better players attract more fans. You get the idea.

Second, a pro-sports organization would have an array of ways to draw fans to the game. Advertising and promoting throughout casinos, restaurants and hotels would generate more than enough revenue from people who don't want to pay a high initial price to gamble or go to a show.

If the organization offered a low admission price and a number of customer incentives, selling out for a 1 p.m. game would be a royal flush.

Third, if the organization focused its source of revenue on its competitors, it would have a reliable revenue generator. In other words, a sports team is a source of entertainment competing with other sources of entertainment, especially in Vegas.

So who would pay a high, competitive price for stadium ad space? The other entertainment companies, casinos and the like.

Fourth, the organization could create community action and relations programs that allow locals to get involved. Athletes would contribute to an image of a compassionate, care-giving Las Vegas.

For the athletes, it would be a privilege to play in Vegas and they would feel encouraged to give back.

Lastly, Las Vegas has a small TV market, but the foundation of a Sin City team would attract media throughout the country -- ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC and Versus to name a few.

As for the potential betting issue, perhaps the organization could create an agreement in which casinos give a percentage back to the professional league or to a league foundation.

Governor Schwarzenegger, forget your approval for a football stadium in Los Angeles. Vegas is the new sports frontier.

Vegas baby!