The August meeting of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) was filled with remembrance of the day four British pop icons landed in Sin City 50 years ago.
Performing two sold-out shows at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Beatles arrived at McCarran Field Aug. 20, 1964, for what would be the group’s one and only visit to Las Vegas.
Much has changed since at the convention center since that time, and will see more change in landscape after LVCVA’s board of directors’ approval Aug. 12 of a bid to demolish two surrounding apartment buildings and an office building to make room for overflow parking and storage spaces for the center.
Purchased by LVCVA in October 2013, the properties at 650 Sierra Vista Drive and 3333 Cambridge Street will add approximately 5.8 acres to the convention center’s campus.
Winning the bid for the demolition was Environmental Assurance LLC out of Henderson, who scheduled the $571,200 project to begin Sept. 1. The bid was almost 20 percent lower than four other offers.
Commissioner Tom Collins, chair, LVCVA, noted his satisfaction that an in-state contractor won the bid, and will be employing environmentally-friendly practices throughout the project.
“The company having their own in-house recycling will add incremental value on re-use of trees and other landscape,” Collins said.
Further down Sierra Vista Drive, the board also voted to approve the acquisition of property at 602 N. Royal Crest Circle, valued at a more than $9.2 million.
“This will enhance the use of the south side of the South Hall as well as provide parking for the South Hall,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO, LVCVA.
The acquisition was part of a master plan adopted in 2005 to establish a strategy to improve and enhance the convention center. One of the recommendations of the plan was to acquire real property that will provide passenger vehicle and truck circulation, additional customer parking and event attendee access to and from the center.
Another big move from the board during the meeting was the approval of an annual $2.5 million sponsorship to the National Finals Rodeo. Held every year in December in Las Vegas, the NFR, produced by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, has become a cornerstone event for Las Vegas for the past 29 years.
After the original sponsorship agreement was approved at a meeting in January, the LVCVA and PRCA decided they would prefer to keep the sponsorship separate from production obligations, thus requiring a new agreement proposal for the 2015-24 period.
Once passing, LVCVA’s investment will yield exclusive rights to the travel and gaming destination category of PRCA sponsorships, sponsorships at the circuit finals rodeos and RAM national circuit finals rodeo as well as the national finals steer roping.
Other unanimous votes approved at the meeting were:
- $210,000 for expenses associated with exhibiting at the World Travel Market in London Nov. 3-6
- $157,000 for expenses associated with exhibiting at The Global Meetings & Events in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 18-20
- $131,150 for expenses associated with exhibiting at the International Association of Exhibition and Events Expo! Expo! Annual meeting Dec. 9-11
- $120,300 for purchasing portable stage equipment to replace outdated panels and storage carts
- $272,000 for annual elevator and escalator maintenance and standby service
