LURING THE EXPOS: Franchise talk takes new tone

Leader of Las Vegas effort hints he's looking down road

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

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After more than a year of working to bring the Montreal Expos to Las Vegas, the potential ownership group appears to be backing off and taking a big-picture approach.

Lou Weisbach, a Chicago-area businessman who heads the effort, said the group is interested in placing a team from a major sport in Las Vegas, be it the Expos or another club from baseball or even another sport.

That statement goes against previous comments from the group's representatives that the only focus was on the Expos.

"If it isn't Montreal, we've set the stage for Las Vegas to receive serious consideration for any Major League Baseball team," Weisbach said. "We've done a lot of work, but it isn't the work we've done, it's the fact that Las Vegas has matured so much."

Even so, Mike Shapiro, a consultant for Centerfield Management Group, which also is part of the effort, said his goal hasn't changed.

"We're focused on getting the Expos and nothing else," he said. "That's our sole focus right now. Everything is aimed in that direction."

Nevertheless, Weisbach's role as the driving force behind the move is a signal of softening on that stance. However, he said he has not received news from baseball officials about Las Vegas' status regarding the Expos.

"This isn't a sprint. This is something long-term," Weisbach said.

Baseball's relocation committee met Wednesday in New York, and, though no cities were dropped from consideration, The Associated Press quoted sources saying that Washington and Northern Virginia were the most discussed locations. In addition to those areas and Las Vegas, other places considered were Portland, Ore.; Norfolk, Va.; Monterrey, Mexico; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The owners met the following day, and no significant events were reported regarding relocating the Expos.

"We've made amazing progress in the last 13 months of having people believe Las Vegas is viable for major-league sports," Weisbach said. "Now everybody realizes it. We've got a great shot at Montreal. If it's not Montreal, somebody will be right behind them. That's our mission. It's a very real mission, and it's very real to other sports."

So, if the Expos don't end up in Las Vegas, Weisbach might get behind a project to bring an NBA or NHL team to Las Vegas or perhaps make another run at another baseball club.

While Weisbach heads Las Vegas' movement for the Expos, he said the ownership has not been determined should the city get a team.

"It's not material right now," Weisbach said. "We've got a lot of people who are buyers into the group to try to make (landing baseball) happen. We're still looking for another major investor. What's important right now is a league deciding to put a team in Las Vegas, whether it's baseball or another league."

Weisbach's lead investors include Robert Blumenfeld of New York, Peter Hueser of Chicago and Bob Scanlan of Portland, Ore. Despite an apparent lack of a local presence, Weisbach said he has received plenty of support from area businesses and politicians.

However, Las Vegas 51s president Don Logan said valley residents need to be involved in any ownership group.

"In order for a team to come to Vegas, it really does need to be done by Las Vegans," Logan said.

Weisbach, 55, created Ha-Lo Industries in 1972. The Chicago-area promotional-products company became a $650 million business by 2000.

He stepped away from daily operations five years ago and formed the American Center for Cures Foundation.

A major Democratic Party supporter, Weisbach put on a fund-raiser in 1998 for the Democratic Business Council. Then-President Clinton attended the $15,000-a-couple party.

Even though he lives in the Chicago area, Weisbach said he was attracted by what he said was an outstanding opportunity to bring major sports to Las Vegas. So he formed Teamscape more than a year ago to buy the Expos and move them here.

"If you look at Las Vegas relative to other cities without a major-league team, Las Vegas is in a better position in the long run more than any other city," Weisbach said.

He cited the population growth, heavy tourism, improving "business climate" and increasing television market size.

"You won't find that in any other city," he said.

There still are questions about whether a metropolitan area of 1.6 million is big enough for a major-league team. Also, according to comments this week by baseball's top two officials, the legalized sports betting issue remains an obstacle.

Regardless, Weisbach said Las Vegas' prospects for acquiring a team are better than when he started the project.

"No question Major League Baseball has come a long way in the last year in recognizing Las Vegas as a potential site for a major-league team," Weisbach said. "That's clear. You can tell by the comments from major-league executives. A year ago, there weren't any comments. Las Vegas, for a lot of people, if it's not right at the top of the list, it's near the top."