Lead stadium investors talk a lot, say little

I arrived at the Silverton on Tuesday expecting to hear specifics about this public-private partnership between UNLV and a group led by billionaire Ed Roski to feature a state-of-the-art events center amid a 150-acre planned development.

I departed knowing this: Those who work for Roski are really good at drawing.

And also this: UNLV softball coach Pete Manarino probably doesn’t agree with the concept.

Important details were not part of the menu at a public forum where Roski and Silverton president Craig Cavileer spoke about their vision to transform much of UNLV’s campus into a mecca of retail, housing and entertainment options, the centerpiece being a 40,000-seat stadium that would hold events ranging from Rebels football and basketball to professional sports to “Disney on Ice.”

Cavileer did most of the talking, and yet, inside of an hour, we learned more about his love for the University of Texas than how much the UNLV project would cost and how long it would take before those fancy renderings become reality.

A guess on the latter: at least three years, when UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck could be back in Montana or running the program at Texas.

Cavileer spoke on creating a university experience much like that in Austin, where students live and shop and eat and attend school and sporting events surrounded by a world of burnt orange and white.

“Why not red and black?” Cavileer asked in comparing the vision to the Rebels.

Um, well, because those aren’t UNLV colors and Georgia already has an on-campus football stadium?

More than anything, Tuesday was a first step you see in all arena plans — a way to generate political traction and create enthusiasm about a project that might never materialize, where those in charge of building it get others energized by talking a lot and saying little.

It’s a tremendous project with endless possibilities and one that if it comes true might earn Neal Smatresk his own bust outside the stadium, or at least have one of the proposed new entryways named for the university president.

But that’s where it remains today. A vision of 10 renderings that seemed to eliminate softball and other sports, which made us think Roski’s group already is trying to save the university money.

We then were told Manarino’s program and others are safe, that the drawings are merely conceptions of larger ideas. We weren’t told much else.

How much would the project cost?

Cavileer: “Pick a number.”

When would you break ground?

Cavileer: “Pick a date.”

What should the events center be called?

Cavileer: “Hook ‘Em Horns Stadium.”

(OK, so the last exchange didn’t happen, but I’m not sure it was that far off )

You don’t build a real estate empire as Roski has — his company has constructed 73 million square feet of industrial and commercial developments worldwide, which I’m pretty sure Cavileer mentioned 73 million times Tuesday — and not have a fairly precise idea about how many zeroes are needed on a check to finance this sort of immense project.

It’s true all arenas are different depending on the programming they offer, that this particular stadium likely would be built with the idea of hosting pro and college sports along with things such as international events, trade shows and other attractions that would benefit the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The National Finals Rodeo would have a new home. So too might the Ultimate Fighting Championship and other important events that still make Las Vegas a destination city and yet one that likely needs a stadium like this to remain a viable one much longer.

The Roski group next presents its plan to the Board of Regents on Feb. 11, when you know a few folks will demand more specifics about numbers and a timetable.

But even if all the regents receive are more memories about college life in Texas and how such a design forever could alter the landscape of UNLV (it would, by the way), the regents definitely should enter into an exclusive agreement with Roski.

You don’t stop this promising of a plan now, not when you consider what it could mean to the university’s long-term health and certainly not when Cavileer says public financing won’t be sought to complete it.

Of course, that also might be a major reason no one was forthcoming with many facts Tuesday, given it’s not the best economic climate for any state university to be floating numbers probably upward of a billion dollars for such a planned development to occur.

“It’s a great opportunity to do a major project in Las Vegas,” Roski said. “We’ve been here a long time. We continue to invest here. It all works together.”

Maybe they can convince high school football players who choose Texas to instead become Rebels. Now that would warrant such a news conference.

Until then, stay tuned.

When it comes to Hook ‘Em Horns Stadium, we’re a long ways from kickoff.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday and Thursday on “Monsters of the Midday,” Fox Sports Radio 920 AM.