Venue News: New UNLV Venue Could be Major League Magnet

If the proposed 40,000-seat stadium on UNLV’s campus is built, it could be the magnet that finally attracts a major league sports franchise to Las Vegas. However, the top executives of Majestic Realty, the project’s developers, were treading lightly on the notion of the NBA or NHL placing a team in the facility when the preliminary plans were unveiled this week at the Silverton. “It’s way too early to get into any of that,” said Silverton president Craig Cavileer, who, with Majestic chairman and CEO Ed Roski, is spearheading the public-private partnership plan with UNLV. “This project is not contingent on having professional sports. However, when it gets built, it will be ready for that and to add another layer to go with UNLV sports and other events…”

…The city of Minneapolis and Minnesota Timberwolves this week will unveil plans for a major renovation of Target Center. A press release says the proposal will be a “sensible, sustainable Minnesota solution for renovating Target Center. The proposed renovation will cost considerably less than replacing the existing facility and will extend its life another two decades.” Gov. Mark Dayton included $8 million for Target Center improvements in his bonding proposal earlier this week, but that’s likely just a fraction of the total funding that will be needed for the type of major overhaul eluded to in the release…

…With two unanimous votes at City Council this week, the Houston Dynamo cleared the last public hurdles needed to build their new stadium on the East End. Free to proceed, the two-time MLS Cup champions this week will present the latest renderings of the stadium in anticipation of holding a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday afternoon. The groundbreaking will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday on the corner of Rusk and Bastrop. “One word: awesome,” Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said after practice Wednesday. “Well, actually, I want three words: Awesome and thank you.”