Laimbeer: MGM is a slam dunk for WNBA

Tip-off is getting closer for the Las Vegas Aces. On Feb. 5, the newly arrived WNBA franchise staged its first event for season-ticket holders, allowing fans to view the seating arrangements inside Mandalay Bay Events Center and choose their spots for the upcoming campaign. Head coach Bill Laimbeer was on hand to meet fans, take photos and, in a few cases, help them select their seats. Laimbeer has been hands-on with everything pertaining to the Aces since the team announced its relocation from San Antonio last year. We caught up with the two-time NBA champion at the season-ticket event for an update.

W hat has been the organization’s top priority since announcing the move?

The logistics of getting organized and set up. Going out and buying all the equipment and getting the arena refurbished and finding a practice site. Everything you have to do from scratch is time-consuming and a logistical challenge, so that’s been the biggest thing, company-wide. From a basketball perspective, it’s waiting for free agency, identifying what our needs were, going out and acquiring some players, and now we prepare for the draft.

How has the relocation process gone?

It’s a lot of work — more than I expected — but I think overall it’s gone very well. Everyone at MGM is very excited about the product. They’re working very hard at it. As the players get to town, I’ve gotten to meet with them, and they’re excited about being here, so it’s a very positive environment.

What do you think of the MGM facilities and the Mandalay Bay Events Center?

I saw the facilities when I first got here, and then we went through all the discussions of what was going to change and how they were going to improve it, and it was like, ‘Wow, look at all this commitment they’re making, from locker rooms to a new Jumbotron to new seating.’ Everything they’ve been involved in, including the WNBA, has been first-class.

What kind of response have you gotten from the local community?

We’re still in launch mode. We’ve made a couple splashes, like this event tonight, and our schedule is about to come out, so that will be another big positive for us. But I walk around town and I stopped by the police (station) one day, and it’s, “Hey, coach, what’s going on? Welcome to town.” Bill Laimbeer,

Las Vegas Aces coach