Brookings Report: Church Making a 'Big Mistake'

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 5/16/2005

A Brookings Institution report out today said the First United Methodist Church was making "a big mistake" with its plans for a new facility at Third and Bridger streets.

"First off, they're only going to use it an hour or two every Sunday morning," said report author Heywood Sanders. "What happens the other six and a half days of the week?"

Sanders said church members who thought they could rent the space out to other groups during the week were being unrealistic.

"There's already a hotel and a handful of restaurants in town," Sanders said. "Let's get real here. How much more can Las Vegas possibly grow?"