Tweet
Las Vegas mayor says NBA softening on opposition
Las Vegas mayor says NBA softening on opposition
`UNLV rule' would circumvent concerns
Bloomberg News
LAS VEGAS -- If Oscar Goodman gets his way, and he says he usually does, then he'll be re-elected as mayor of Las Vegas and fulfill his vision of landing an NBA team.
Goodman has tried for years to lure an NBA team to Las Vegas, but the city's legal sports betting has made it difficult.
"The league needs new energy, and Vegas is the spot to be," Goodman said. "The whole thing is a joke."
The gambling issue might no longer be a deal breaker. Goodman said NBA officials have softened their opposition to putting a team in a city where casinos can take bets on NBA games. That would make it easier for Las Vegas to get a team.
According to the mayor, NBA Commissioner David Stern would be willing to accept an NBA variation of a now-defunct rule designed for Nevada-Las Vegas collegiate sports. The rule allowed casinos to accept college basketball bets, but none involving UNLV.
Under an NBA version of the "UNLV Rule," casinos would accept bets on NBA games not involving the Las Vegas team
`UNLV rule' would circumvent concerns
Bloomberg News
LAS VEGAS -- If Oscar Goodman gets his way, and he says he usually does, then he'll be re-elected as mayor of Las Vegas and fulfill his vision of landing an NBA team.
Goodman has tried for years to lure an NBA team to Las Vegas, but the city's legal sports betting has made it difficult.
"The league needs new energy, and Vegas is the spot to be," Goodman said. "The whole thing is a joke."
The gambling issue might no longer be a deal breaker. Goodman said NBA officials have softened their opposition to putting a team in a city where casinos can take bets on NBA games. That would make it easier for Las Vegas to get a team.
According to the mayor, NBA Commissioner David Stern would be willing to accept an NBA variation of a now-defunct rule designed for Nevada-Las Vegas collegiate sports. The rule allowed casinos to accept college basketball bets, but none involving UNLV.
Under an NBA version of the "UNLV Rule," casinos would accept bets on NBA games not involving the Las Vegas team