LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In December, businessman and former UNLV and NBA player Jackie Robinson, Chairman, All Net Arena, LLC, announced plans to develop a $1.3 billion privately-funded resort and arena located on the Las Vegas Strip and scheduled to break ground late this summer.
The massive project boasts a powerful team including China Construction America Inc./Plaza Construction (a Fortune Global 500 company ranked third largest construction company in the world with over $102 billion in revenue in 2013); Mortenson/McCarthy; CBRE Commercial Real Estate Services; Cuningham Group Architectural Services; SSR Inc. MEP (NBA Certified); HKS Architectural Engineering (NBA Certified); Las Vegas Economic Impact Regional Center; Gold Crown Trading; Kaempfer Crowell, Global Law Group; Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp; Easton Harris; Esquire; and Denny Weddle & Associates.
Robinson is strongly supported by the Mobile, Alabama, MBDA Center, federally-funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency. Pamela Ramos, Executive Director of the MBDA Mobile Center, said they are “pleased to support the effort of All Net Resort & Arena in its mission to advance unity and diversity in sports, and to round out the entertainment industry in Las Vegas.” Ramos added, “All Net Arena and Resort offers an opportunity for substantial engagement of the diverse business community, creating record-breaking economic benefits of more than 19,000 jobs with a significant portion of the construction costs being earned by local and minority firms.”
All Net Arena has submitted its final traffic study, the Rise Report, and pre-application submittal for entitlements to the county per its schedule of filings, which will culminate in a final appearance before the Clark County Commissioners on August 6, 2014. Robinson, in final negotiations with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, has indicated that Hilton Hotel Corporation and Marriott Corporation have each expressed a strong interest in the five-star hotel facility.
Joining the All Net Board of Directors is Senior Vice President Eddie Tantoco, former Vice President of the Host Marriott Corporation, as well as former Vice President of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, who will head up the hospitality division for All Net Development, Inc. Elizabeth Blau, cited by Vegas Magazine as the Culinary Queen, joins the group as Food & Beverage Team Member.
Robinson has an impressive background in sports entertainment and management—drafted by the Houston Rockets, a member of the 1978-79 Seattle Super Sonic World Championship team, the Detroit Pistons, and the Chicago Bulls when Rod Thorn, now NBA President of Basketball Operations, was general manager—and as owner of the Las Vegas Bandits IBL basketball team coached by Lionel Hollins and Berry Hecker, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Robinson concludes, "…an NBA franchise would be greatly received and supported by the Las Vegas community and tourism industry. I have communicated to Commissioner (Adam) Silver my desire and my partners’ willingness to invest additional funds to purchase an NBA franchise."