Convention authority OKs $10 million contract with Las Vegas Events

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors has approved a $10 million contract with Las Vegas Events, the organization that coordinates special events that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Southern Nevada.

The board unanimously approved the annual contract with the nonprofit organization that coordinates, among other things, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Under terms of the agreement, Las Vegas Events works with the Convention and Visitors Authority to develop concerts, festivals and other activities in Mesquite, Laughlin and Primm as well as Las Vegas.

The agreement, which runs July 1 through June 30, 2016, provides a $10 million grant to develop events that drive visitor volume and media exposure for the city. Under the agreement, Las Vegas Events can co-sponsor some events and is enabled to use the authority’s branding and trademarks.

Las Vegas Events was formed in 1983 to attempt to lure the National Finals Rodeo to Las Vegas from Oklahoma City. The rodeo turned into Las Vegas Events’ model event for developing other festivals and activities, building spinoff attractions centered around one core event.

Because of its private, nonprofit status, Las Vegas Events is not required to have public meetings, which enables executives to negotiate behind closed doors with event producers.

The secretive nature of the organization’s operation played out in 2013 when Orlando, Fla., and Dallas made a play to attract the rodeo from Las Vegas. But Las Vegas Events repelled those efforts with behind-the-scenes meetings to convince the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to keep the event in Las Vegas and sign a long-term contract.

This is a developing news story. Check back here for updates.

Contact reporter Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find @RickVelotta on Twitter.