The Goodman forecast: In 10 years, Vegas will be ‘major league everything’

By JOHN KATSILOMETES LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

8 years ago

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, left, introduces the Chippendales as a part of the pre-entertainment on the Third Street Stage at Fremont Street Experience for the Las Vegas Great Santa Run, benefitting Opportunity Village, Sat, Dec. 3, 2016, in Downtown Las Vegas. (Elizabeth Page Brumley/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow) @EliPagePhoto

Elvis tribute artist Jesse Garon performs with the OP Elvi on the Third Street Stage at Fremont Street Experience during the 12th annual Great Santa Run, benefitting Opportunity Village, Sat, Dec. 3, 2016, in Downtown Las Vegas. (John Katsilometes/Las Review-Journal)

Members of the OV Elvi show off their “OV” capes on the Third Street Stage at Fremont Street Experience during the 12th annual Great Santa Run, benefitting Opportunity Village, Sat, Dec. 3, 2016, in Downtown Las Vegas. (John Katsilometes/Las Review-Journal)

Members of Human Nature perform for nearly 9,000 Santa-suited fans on the Third Street Stage at Fremont Street Experience during the 12th annual Great Santa Run, benefitting Opportunity Village, Sat, Dec. 3, 2016, in Downtown Las Vegas. (John Katsilometes/Las Review-Journal)

The backstage crew, from left: Jesse Garon as Elvis, Amanda Nowak, “Sexxy” at Westgate star Jennifer Romas, Oscar Goodman, “Sexxy” singer Gabriella Versace, and CeCe Correia. (John Katsilometes/Las Review-Journal)

Members of Human Nature appear on the Third Street Stage at Fremont Street Experience during the 12th annual Great Santa Run, benefitting Opportunity Village, Sat, Dec. 3, 2016, in Downtown Las Vegas. (John Katsilometes/Las Review-Journal)

A look at Oscar Goodman’s holiday martini backstage at the Third Street Stage at Fremont Street Experience during the 12th annual Great Santa Run, benefitting Opportunity Village, Sat, Dec. 3, 2016, in Downtown Las Vegas. (John Katsilometes/Las Review-Journal)

A spin around VegasVille, where the city’s mayor shares a stage with shirtless men from “Chippendales” and a brace of Elvis impressionists:

THE RED SEA

An official total of 8,803 participants in traditional Santa Claus running suits turned out Saturday morning on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas for Opportunity Village’s 12th annual Great Santa Run. The rite of winter is a benefit for the nonprofit organization that supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The turnout figure is about in line with last year’s total.

Mayor Carolyn Goodman read a proclamation from the Third Street Stage and was joined by event grand marshals Human Nature, Lorena Peril of “Fantasy” at Luxor, Gabriella Versace of “Sexxy” at Westgate, members of “Chippendales” at the Rio, and longtime Elvis tribute artist Jesse Garon backed by the crack OV Elvi lineup under the direction of esteemed Vegas showman Daryll Borges.The event was co-hosted by Fox 5 anchors Jason Feinberg and Maria Silva.

And, lest we forget, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was an early riser too, carrying a martini with a candy cane as a stir stick (within minutes the gin had melted the candy, turning the cocktail a happy holiday pink). He was joined by a pair of showgirl models in magenta Santa outfits.

Backstage, Carolyn Goodman took a break from holiday talk to chat about the city’s advances as a major-league sports town. Her husband geared up that effort when he developed positive working relationships with former NBA Commissioner David Stern in the early 2000s, convincing Stern that a major sports league could co-exist in Las Vegas even with the city’s legal open sports betting. As it happened, Las Vegas landed an NHL team first.

“Thank you, Bill Foley, for bringing us hockey,” Goodman said, referring to the principal owner of the Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL. She reiterated her support for moving an NFL team, chiefly the Raiders, to the Cashman Center property rather than the location just west of I-15 and Mandalay Bay.

“But to me, whatever happens in Southern Nevada benefits us all,” Goodman said, allowing that the current effort by the Oakland to keep the Raiders might override the Las Vegas campaign to move the team here. “If it’s not the Oakland Raiders, it will be some other major-league team moving to Las Vegas. We have a great relationship with the NBA, stemming from Oscar’s passion from the beginning.”

The mayor predicted that Las Vegas will one day be a major sports city for all leagues.

“I will tell you, in a decade, we will have major league everything here,” she said. “Major league. I believe it.”

W LAS VEGAS FIRST TO 50

W Las Vegas on the Strip is boasting about its status as the 50th W-branded resort in the world. The resort linked to SLS Las Vegas opened on Thursday night, but it was originally intended to be W hotel No. 51 worldwide. Only a delay in the opening of W Goa in Vagator, India, allowed the Strip resort to claim the marketing-friendly 50th spot. W Goa was planned for a fall opening, but that was pushed back to Dec. 12. “At first we were like, ‘Why did you pick a date before ours?’” W General Manager Mark Eberwein said. “When it was moved back, we went, ‘OK! We’ll take No. 50!’”

And, in case you’re curious about who runs what in that SLS-W Las Vegas arrangement, SLS President Scott Kreeger says he offers only “informal” advice and consultation to the new crew. W owner Starwood Resorts Worldwide does not franchise any of its resorts and runs everything in-house. A big house, in this instance.

AMID THE WRANGLERS …

So, I’m checking out of Boot Barn on Thursday afternoon with a couple of pair of Ariat and Cinch jeans and a new Wrangler shirt (on a last-minute NFR shopping spree), and a slender, bearded gentleman in a beanie walked in.

He was legendary guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.

I had met him before, at a birthday party at Hyde Nightclub for the “Gigolos” Showtime series producer Marklen Kennedy. Gibbons appeared with Kings of Chaos in three weekend shows at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. He had just flown back from a tour date and told me he was browsing because his airline lost his luggage. As we spoke, an employee asked (him) for a photo, and Gibbons obliged, pulling a pair of cheap sunglasses from his pocket for the pose.

John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.