Football clubs bring in Vegas developer

Two UK football clubs last week announced deals with US-based Las Vegas Sands, which owns the Venetian casino in Las Vegas, to develop hotels at their stadiums.

Glasgow Rangers unveiled plans for a £120m redevelopment scheme, which will include a 140-bedroom hotel and 14,000sq ft of conference facilities.

Sheffield United also announced its deal with Las Vegas Sands last week. The English club signed up the US company to build a 120-bedroom hotel and casino. Work on the £80m scheme could start as early as 2005 if the Government sanctions the appropriate deregulation of gaming laws.

Robert Barnard, director at consultants PKF, which has conducted several feasibility studies into such complexes, said: "The move to including casinos and hotels as part of stadium redevelopment plans shows that football clubs are committed to offering facilities capable of providing a 365-days-a-year income stream that is not dependent upon pitch activities. We expect to see more football club schemes involving casinos as we move towards deregulation."

Coventry FC is also expected to announce plans to open a hotel at its grounds in the near future.