Frequently Asked Questions

Gaming revenues and employment have declined over the last 10 years and are not anticipated to increase. Lake Tahoe generates the lion share of gaming and room tax, but those tax revenues have been on a downward trend.

Change is needed to reverse this decline, so Douglas County’s tax revenues grow. An Event Center would generate an estimated tax surplus of approximately $1 million, create jobs, and diversify and grow the resort economy.

Based on current estimates, the center will cost approximately $100M.

Yes, they will. The resorts’ involvement includes:

• Private sector land donation
• Supporting a bond against Tahoe Lodging License Fee
• Plan for a room surcharge for the Tahoe Township Lodging resorts

Taxpayers are not responsible for funding the Event Center.

It will take two years to build the Events Center.

Douglas County will  benefit in many ways, including:

• $200K-300K annual increased sales tax
• 350-550 full-time jobs, many primarily benefiting part-time/seasonal employees
• More than 800 construction jobs
• An increase in year-round jobs provide more financial stability for Douglas County residents who work at South Shore

• Yes. Local labor will receive priority over out-of-area labor.
• Finding local labor should not be an issue since 1,727 of the 16,841 paid employees in Douglas County work in construction and wholesale trade, which is more than 10% of the local workforce.

There would be an increase in annual revenues to Douglas County from room taxes of $810,600 to $1.2 million.

It’s estimated that the boost in Douglas County’s transient occupancy tax (TOT), lodging license fees, and sales tax will be $1.1-1.7 million annually.

• The market analysis prepared by Conventions Sports and Leisure found that the convention center could host approximately 130 events per year.
• Most of these events would consist of corporate and association meetings, banquets and receptions, serving up to 1,200 attendees.
• This type of event typically occurs midweek (e.g., Sunday through Thursday) and during the spring and fall months.
• Potential for up to 30 concerts per year.
• The Event Center will also host sports tournaments, including hockey, soccer, football, wrestling, pickleball, gymnastics, basketball and volleyball.

• Reduction in blight through more environmentally sound site improvements
• Reduction in pollutants of concern entering Lake Tahoe associated with surface parking
• Reduction in sediment load to Lake Tahoe.

• The Event Center Project has incorporated the plans for the Loop Road so that both projects work in concert with traffic patterns.
• As with the current big events, parking for event center use will be coordinated with all resorts in the surrounding core during peak usage. (The existing parking supply exceeds demand.)
• The event center’s plans include new transit shelters, a proposed 100’ long transit pull-off along Hwy 50, and a seasonal micro-transit system.