MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Pete Rose knows better than anyone that baseball fears the specter of gambling above all else -- more than steroids, more than amphetamines or cocaine, more than corked bats or doctored balls, more than a commissioner's apparent conflict of interest. Las Vegas offers a warm climate, growing population and lots of disposable income. Last week, Rose autographed copies of his book in a casino, an appearance that will probably hurt his chances of reinstatement more -- in the eyes of baseball -- than if he had been convicted of failure to pay child support. This recent reaffirmation of gambling as a baseball evil comes at a time when Las Vegas is among five cities being seriously considered as a possible relocation site for the Montreal Bohemians, the game's traveling road show. The other areas for relocation discussed at the owners' meetings last week were Washington/Northern Virginia, Norfolk/Hampton Roads, Portland, Ore., and Monterrey, Mexico, according to a high-ranking major league executive. A group from Las Vegas made a presentation to the relocation committee, and despite baseball's inherent concern about gambling, there is a prevailing line of reasoning that the place is very interesting: It's a city flush with disposable income. Las Vegas has been home to minor league teams for the last 21 years, successfully, in spite of the fact that the park is located on the outskirts of the city, rather than among the casinos. A new ballpark might be built next to Bally's, easily accessible to anyone who has won a few bucks or hasn't lost everything. Don Logan, the president and general manager of the Las Vegas Triple-A team, the 51s, doesn't believe the area is yet prepared to support a major league team. Las Vegas is the fastest growing city, adding 5,000 residents a month. But the city has only 1.5 million permanent residents, it ranks a weak 51st among television markets, and unless sand dunes can suddenly morph into season-ticket holders, there are virtually no outlying communities to sustain the franchise. "This is a 24-hour town," Logan said, "and because 71-72 percent of the work force is either involved directly by the casino industry or supported by it, at any given time 25 percent of the population is working or sleeping." The worst scenario that could occur, Logan says, is that Las Vegas might win the Expos and then draw lightly in the first year, before a new park opened -- say attendance of 1.6 million -- and then decline steadily. In time, Logan believes, Las Vegas will be large enough for major league baseball -- and would strongly support baseball, more than it would ever support a team from the NFL or NBA or NHL. But there is a wild card working for Las Vegas. Probably more than any other team, a Las Vegas franchise would benefit from tourist industry dollars: the Triple-A Travel Agency, for example, could sell Vegas packages that would include three tickets to a series against the Yankees, or the Diamondbacks, or the Dodgers. And almost all the visitors to Vegas look for opportunities to step away from the slot machines or crap tables for a few hours, which is why so many shows and performers thrive there. The stigma that Major League Baseball might have once attached to Las Vegas has worn away, says a baseball official. Gambling is far more widespread than 20 years ago, he notes, mentioning the reservation and riverboat casinos and online betting. Baseball would probably ask for and receive assurances from Las Vegas that the major league games not appear on the books. "I think that there has been an unspoken concern," said Logan. "But the proliferation of gambling around the country has eased concerns, if it hadn't already eased before. The [gambling] industry is extremely well-maintained. It has to be perceived as legitimate to succeed." Baltimore owner Peter Angelos has fought expansion into Washington and Northern Virginia, arguing that a franchise placed there would irreparably damage the Orioles' attendance. And while Angelos was once a pariah among other owners, for his stance against replacement players during the strike of 1994-95, he has steadily increased his influence among his brethren, serving on the negotiating committee for the labor talks in 2002 and recently gaining a spot on the owners' elite executive committee. And there are owners who have long been leery of Angelos; they presume that if they attempted to move a franchise into Washington, they would have to engage Angelos -- an extraordinarily successful lawyer -- in a protracted legal fight on his home turf. In the opinion of a top major league official, Washington "is the most natural place to go. But when you factor in Angelos and the concerns there, the place that makes the most sense to me is Las Vegas." What about the appearance of housing a franchise in Gambling Central, U.S.A.? "Not an issue anymore," said the executive. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stor...ster&id=1718761 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 They should announce the Las Vegas Gamblers the same day they let Rose into the Hall of Fame. Hell, go one step further and make it an expansion team with Darryl Strawberry as hitting coach, Steve Howe as pitching coach and Pete as the manager. Instant ratings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jimbo Report post Posted January 27, 2004 What a horrific name...the Las Vegas Expos...*cringes* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I still will never believe that Las Vegas will get a major profession team. If the Expos moved to Las Vegas then Pete Rose and Joe Jackson should immediately be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Las Vegas offers a warm climate Warm? HA! Don't they mean "hot as hell"? Las Vegas has been home to minor league teams for the last 21 years, successfully, in spite of the fact that the park is located on the outskirts of the city, rather than among the casinos. Shit its on Las Vegas Blvd so its not like its that far from the casinos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I still will never believe that Las Vegas will get a major profession team. If the Expos moved to Las Vegas then Pete Rose and Joe Jackson should immediately be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Las Vegas offers a warm climate Warm? HA! Don't they mean "hot as hell"? Las Vegas has been home to minor league teams for the last 21 years, successfully, in spite of the fact that the park is located on the outskirts of the city, rather than among the casinos. Shit its on Las Vegas Blvd so its not like its that far from the casinos. I've lived there for a few years and the only "hot" months are July and August. Rest of the year is just warm in the 80s-90s Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Yes I lived there for eight months, as recently as last June. It was already topping 100 in late May and hitting 110 in June but maybe I just had bad timing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 That's not the norm really. March thru July would be fine and Sept-October as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bottled Black Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Slightly off topic but whats average temp for late October? I'm gonna be in Vegas Oct 25-29. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 From the 70's upto the low 80's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bottled Black Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Cool thanks Rant. Something to look forward to since it's like 10 degrees here in NY right now. Back On topic I don't see how having a pro sports team in Vegas is a good idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Would the weather be any worse than Arizona? Just build a retractable roof dome, problem solved. If they move to Vegas, I think they should rip off the Smart Marks Fake Baseball League and call em the Las Vegas Jokers. Of course, they won't since Jokers = Cards = Gambling = Evil, but it would be a cool name... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 It's milder than AZ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slickster 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 They might be able to get away with Jokers or something....after all, the Houston Gamblers played 3 seasons in the USFL without incident back in the day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Las Vegas won't work, and it'll screw up some perfectly good divisions. Hampton Roads is the way to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 The Las Vegas Expose Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahran Ramsus 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2004 Rest of the year is just warm in the 80s-90s Up here, that's bloody hot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mole 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2004 Bleh, I don't see anything wrong with a pro team in LV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted January 29, 2004 They might be able to get away with Jokers or something....after all, the Houston Gamblers played 3 seasons in the USFL without incident back in the day. But Houston isn't an "Gambling" city... Beside LV had a fucking "PROFESSIONAL" team once... Have you people forgotten then legendary Las Vegas Outlaws? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
