Posted: Sep. 11, 2012 | 3:58 p.m.
A preliminary move involving the sale of the Las Vegas 51s played out like a game of hard ball Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors meeting.
The current owners of the Las Vegas 51s baseball team, Stars Las Vegas LLC, are attempting to sell the team to Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club LLC, a joint venture between the Howard Hughes Corp. and Steven Mack.
As part of that transaction, the prospective buyers are requesting a four-year lease extension at Cashman Center, from Dec. 31, 2018, to Dec. 31, 2022. If they choose to vacate, the tenants have to give the visitors authority, the building's owner, one-year notice.
That brought a protest from Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman.
"I have not been included on any discussion on this," Goodman told the other directors.
Goodman then requested an abeyance. Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross then moved to suspend the item for 60 days, a move that started a debate between its stakeholders.
Goodman expressed concern that tying up a 57-acre parcel in downtown Las Vegas when the area is in the midst of a revitalization may not be the most prudent move, and she called an extension "premature."
"We're at a critical point in this city," Goodman said.
She also said other developers from Northern California and overseas have expressed interest in the land.
Attorney Chris Kaempfer was present representing the prospective buyers.
"This has to be the first step. Without the first step, I don't know if Howard Hughes can go forward," Kaempfer told the board.
He then said a 60-day abeyance is past some of the transaction's deadlines.
Goodman responded: "I hear everything you're saying, I just need time. ... This is a huge commitment for the city."
Kaempfer, coming on stronger, said that in 60 days the Howard Hughes offer may not still be on the table.
While she said she's got nothing against baseball, Goodman didn't back down and made it clear she didn't want to act until she was sure the 51s are the best possible option for that space downtown.
Ross added: "We haven't been part of the conversation. You need to come visit and talk to us."
During the discussion, both Scott Adams, chief urban redevelopment officer for the city of Las Vegas, and Bill Arent, economic and urban development director for the city of Las Vegas, said 30 days is not a lot of time to review something of this magnitude and agreed 60 days is in the best interest of the city.
When it came time for their two cents, the other convention authority board members expressed their understanding of Goodman and Ross' positions, but said they felt 30 days was a more appropriate abeyance period.
"I'm not going to change my motion. I'm going to support my staff at the city of Las Vegas," Ross said.
The vote for a 60-day abeyance then split the 14-member board, with the city of Las Vegas representatives on one side and the other municipalities on the other.
Ross then moved for a 30-day abeyance, which was approved by all who voted.
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kristin McMillan abstained from the vote and the conversation, as Kevin Orrock, president of Summerlin and executive vice president of master-planned communities for the Howard Hughes Corp., is chairman of her board.
Contact reporter Laura Carroll at lcarroll@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588.
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