Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Argüello-Kline, whose push for a seat on the Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board of Directors was rejected by the Clark County Commission last month, landed a position on the panel Monday thanks to Governor Steve Sisolak.
Argüello-Kline, who heads up the state’s largest labor union that represents some 60,000 non-gaming workers at Las Vegas hotel-casinos, will be part of the nine-person group that oversees the $2 billion Allegiant Stadium. The 65,000-seat development on the west side of Interstate 15 across from the Las Vegas Strip, will house the relocated Las Vegas Raiders. The stadium is expected to be completed by the end of July.
Geocanda Arguello-Kline, left, at a Culinary event for Joe Biden in December/Photo by Howard Stutz
Sisolak also reappointed Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, as the panel’s chairman.
“I’m confident that Steve’s steady leadership and expertise, combined with Geo’s deep understanding of Nevada’s service industry and experience in workforce development will create necessary continuity and dynamic representation on this board,” Sisolak said.
Argüello-Kline has worked in the Las Vegas hospitality industry for more than 30 years and has served as the Culinary’s top official since 2012.
In a statement, Argüello-Kline said the Culinary’s parent organization, UNITE HERE, represents 30,000 workers at 51 stadiums across the United States.
“This is what we do. From big conventions to New Year’s Eve, Culinary Union members are the experts in Nevada,” Argüello-Kline said. “We want the stadium to be successful and now that the construction is nearly over, the next phase is now: Job training, equal opportunity hiring, and workforce development.”
As governor, Sisolak has three appointments to the panel. Argüello-Kline replaces Las Vegas attorney Scott Nielson, whose term expired in December. The term of Sisolak’s other appointment, MGM Resorts International President Bill Hornbuckle, expires at the end of 2022.
Hill served as the director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) before joining the LVCVA in 2018. He has been the stadium panel’s chairman since its inception.
In December, Argüello-Kline sought the Stadium Authority seat held by Tommy White, business manager-secretary treasurer of Laborers Local 872, the union supplying the bulk of the stadium construction workforce. The Clark County Commission voted 5-2 to reappoint White, despite heavy lobbying by the Culinary.
#newsroom – Culinary Union leader appointed by governor to board overseeing $2B Las Vegas stadium. –@howardstutz, CDC Gaming Reports. https://t.co/AmbRX1r92v @AllegiantStadm #CDCgaming
— CDC Gaming Reports (@CDCNewswire) January 7, 2020
In addition to the NFL’s Raiders, Allegiant Stadium will be home to UNLV’s football team and will host sporting and entertainment events, including the 2020 and 2021 Pac-12 Football Championship, and will serve as the annual site of the Las Vegas Bowl.
The glass-domed stadium, whose construction budget includes $750 million of hotel room-tax contributions, is expected to be a tourism driver for Las Vegas industry.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
