Vegas Sports Venue Plans

A Los Angeles-based developer is shoring up investors in an effort to build a sports oasis in North Las Vegas.

The $4 billion project would break ground within nine months if Matt Rose can get the money and regulatory approval.

The project would include seven arenas, including one seating 26,000, a 5,000-seat aquatic center and an air-conditioned driving range. There would be a 150,000-square-foot casino, 5,500-room hotel and 10 nightclubs.

The resort would be situated eight miles outside the city on a 116-acre desert plot. It would be sports-based and could further Mayor Oscar Goodman’s efforts to woo a pro sports team to Sin City.

However, Rose said he will focus on amateur and Olympic sports that regularly hold well-attended competitions in cities that do not have Vegas’ visceral attractions.

“Our goal is to bring to the Las Vegas valley an unparalleled sports experience where our focus is on sports, health, fitness and athletes – and we have a casino, too,” Rose said.

The SoCal developer has spent years buying and selling Los Angeles strip malls, and his privately held Ultimate Sports Entertainment has about $93 million in escrow for the Vegas project. Banks and other investors are being courted for the remaining funds, Rose said.

If the project goes as planned it would open in 2009. Rose’s dream is not dependent on a pro franchise.

“Our vision to fill that dream is to have so much sports to play, sports to watch, sports to buy and sports to experience that our visitors couldn’t do it all in one day,” the developer said.