This week on "Talk About Las Vegas With Ira," Ira sits down with Richard N. “Rick” Velotta, Assistant Business Editor at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Rick shares his insid-er’s perspective on the forces reshaping our city—from the explosion of professional sports teams, and the real possibility of an NBA franchise, to how the resort community may have pushed pricing a little too far.

We dig into the future of transportation with the underground Loop system and the long-awaited high-speed rail, plus how “speed dating” between airlines and destinations in an upcoming conference helps fuel growth. Rick also breaks down the top stories he’s tracking this year: rising visitation, commodity markets crossing into sports betting, and the development of a supplemental airport at Ivanpah.

Along the way, Rick reflects on the resilience of Las Vegas—how we continually reinvent ourselves—and why he’s optimistic about both the city and the future of journalism here. He also talks about Terry Lanni, the late MGM Mirage CEO, as someone who he wishes he’d had more time to interview.

And of course, we couldn’t leave out The Sphere—already a defining part of Las Vegas’ entertainment landscape.

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