Las Vegas' retail outlets know that Tyson fights have bettered their bottom line. Tourism has been soft this summer. Many Las Vegas hotels have more empty rooms than usual. Hotels aren't filling up on Friday as they previously did. Traffic congestion on the highway from Los Angeles has caused the arrival and departure patterns at hotels to change.
Competition is keener.
Customers book late and buy less. I don't think threatening Don King with punishment if he does business with Mike, or passing a law that allow the Nevada Athletic Commission to take all of a fighter's purse, will help our ability to attract boxing to our tourist economy. Mississippi, New Jersey, Mexico and many foreign countries with gaming would love to replace Las Vegas as the premier boxing venue. Barbara Robinson is a retired attorney living in Las Vegas. Her column appears every other Friday.