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Area15 owners pitch 50-acre Las Vegas site for possible NBA arena
Area15 executive Winston Fisher is proposing an arena, resort and retail development on land north of the entertainment complex. Mayor Shelley Berkley supports considering the site, but team owners and the NBA would make the final decision.
LAS VEGAS — A 50-acre property near Area15 is being pitched as a possible home for a future Las Vegas NBA team, adding another contender to the competition over where a major arena could be built.
Winston Fisher, CEO and chief visionary of Area15, says the land between the entertainment complex and Palace Station could accommodate an arena along with a resort and retail development. The Fisher brothers, who own Area15, control the additional property. The complex itself occupies about 30 acres west of Interstate 15.
Fisher described the proposal as ready to move forward, citing existing infrastructure, tax credits and support from the city. He said a master plan could be carried out quickly while allowing flexibility in what gets built.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley said she supports the proposal and wants at least one major professional sports team located within city limits. She said she has spoken with Fisher several times and hopes whoever secures a franchise will seriously consider the Area15 site.
The location’s proximity to a popular visitor destination could work in its favor, said Jeremy Aguero, a principal with Applied Analysis. But he cautioned that arena proposals must be evaluated on practical questions, including visibility, traffic access, distance from the Strip and whether the surrounding area can support a broader, walkable district with possible hotel connections.
Aguero said roughly a dozen sites are being discussed as potential arena locations. No site has been selected, and the final decision would rest with team ownership and the NBA.