Arena Football League - Las Vegas Gladiators

New Jersey Gladiators to Relocate to Las Vegas

Relocating New Jersey Gladiators to play at Thomas & Mack Center in 2003

The Arena Football League is coming back to Las Vegas.

Tim Neverett, who was the radio announcer for the previous AFL franchise in Las Vegas, said a news conference will be scheduled Thursday to announce the New Jersey Gladiators' move to Las Vegas for the 2003 season and play at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Gladiators executives will meet with Thomas & Mack officials today to complete the deal.

"I'm told it's done," Neverett said.

Thomas & Mack director Daren Libonati said he could "not confirm or deny" a deal was imminent.

"I really don't have anything to say right now," Libonati said.

Las Vegas previously was the host to an AFL team when the Sting played at the Thomas & Mack in 1994 and the MGM Grand Garden in 1995. The Sting then moved to Anaheim, Calif.

Now Las Vegas is getting another shot.

"The interesting thing is the NBC factor," Neverett said. "They'll have five or six games televised by NBC."

Neverett said the Gladiators will keep their nickname and most of their schedule will remain the same, though some changes are expected.

New Jersey won the Eastern Division last season with a 9-5 record. The Gladiators lost 49-46 to the Orlando Predators in the first round of the playoffs.

Las Vegas actually appeared to be closing in on an AF2 league team over the summer, an unnamed source said. AF2, a division of the AFL, plays in smaller markets.

At the time of those discussions, the source said the hope was to put such a team in a downtown arena that has not been built. The Orleans, which is expected to open a 9,000-seat arena next spring, also was interested in an AF2 team.

The same source said that would not occur because Las Vegas was being held for an AFL club.

This article was taken from www.reviewjournal.com.  All rights reserved.