Developers proposing stadium to meet week ahead of schedule

Developers proposing a 65,000-seat, $1.9 billion domed football stadium have said they want to move the process along quickly, now that they’ve agreed on prospective sites.

The chairman of the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee has concurred, scheduling a meeting Sept. 8 at 1 p.m., a week ahead of the original schedule.

The meeting will be at UNLV’s Stan Fulton Building and the agenda includes workshop discussions on the stadium proposal from the family of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson, Majestic Realty and the Oakland Raiders.

Adelson family representatives have stressed the importance of developing a committee recommendation quickly to maintain a timeline that would include scheduling a special session of the Legislature and preparing a presentation for National Football League owners in January.

At the 11-member committee’s Aug. 25 session, details on a proposal for additional police officers for the resort corridor were discussed and that could be brought to a formal recommendation vote on Sept. 8.

It’s not as likely that the stadium plan would be finalized since further discussions are expected on the developers’ request for $750 million in public funds through a 0.88 percentage-point increase in the existing 12 percent room tax.

The Adelson family has pledged to donate $650 million for the stadium and the Raiders would submit $500 million to build it. Adelson would be responsible for any cost overruns.

At the Aug. 25 session, developers said they are focusing on stadium sites on 62 acres west of Interstate 15 between Russell Road and Hacienda Avenue, and on the current Bali Hai Golf Club.

The committee’s website still lists scheduled meetings Sept. 15 and 22.

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson.

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