By HANNAH DREIER
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS [AP] -- Reports – A former National Basketball Association player wants to build a $1.3 billion arena & hotel on the Las Vegas NV Strip.
Jackie Robinson, a former UNLV player-turned Las Vegas NV businessman, asserted this week he expects to begin construction in the spring on the privately funded project near the renovated SLS Las Vegas NV hotel-casino & the idle Fontainebleau tower. It would open at the end of 2016.
The 22,000-seat stadium would be the 2nd new arena on the tourist corridor. MGM Resorts International is building a similarly-sized project on the opposite side of the Strip, in partnership with sports & entertainment promoter AEG.
But Las Vegas NV is a town in that revels in not knowing when to stop. The city is already set to get two new urban zip lines, as well as two oversized Ferris-style observation wheels.
“I think it’s the only place that’s going to have the Chicago Bears at one end & Beyonce at the other end, & an arena in both places. It’s a unique place_it’s not like Kansas City. It can support more than one event,” Robinson said.
Developers state the 863,000 square-foot arena will feature four levels, a retractable roof, & a nightclub, & will host basketball, hockey, boxing, rodeo events & concerts. Plans moreover call for 75 luxury boxes with a separate VIP entrance.
Robinson asserted an outdoor promenade with shops & restaurants will lead to a luxury hotel with 500 rooms & a wedding chapel.
“When you leave an arena, you go back to an empty parking lot & sit in traffic for two hours. I think it would be nice if you could go out from an arena & go directly from a nightclub or to a restaurant or do some shopping,” he said.
The arena is expected to cost $690 million, & the promenade & hotel are expected to cost $650 million. The Minneapolis-based firm Cunningham Group Architecture, Inc., is designing the project.
Robinson asserted the project will draw more locals than the MGM arena, & will be able to keep them on the property with dining & shopping options. He moreover asserted the arena will be able to attract conventions & large corporate meetings.
The $350 million MGM arena is expected to open in spring of 2016 between the New York-New York & Monte Carlo hotel-casinos.
Robinson played basketball at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, & coach Jerry Tarkanian from 1973 to 1978. He played in the NBA from 1978 to 1982, with the Seattle SuperSonics, Detroit Pistons & Chicago Bulls.
He after worked as a general contractor, hotel manager & airport concession owner. Robinson asserted the project will be financed with loans. He started working on the idea five years of time ago, yet had to wait until the economy improved.
“We put everything on mothballs until things turned around,” he said. “I’ve played in several arenas – I’ve been around & I understand in that it has to be an experience, not just an event.”
Hannah Dreier can be reached at http://twitter.com/hannahdreier.
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