By Mark Vester
The fight negotiations for Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquiao have just started and every major venue is putting in a bid to host the event. One city making a major play to host the event is New Orleans. Bill Clinton's former consigliere James Carville has spoken to Top Rank's Bob Arum and HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg about bringing the fight to the New Orleans Superdome which could seat around 70,000 for the fight.
"There is an incredible narrative here," Carville told nola.com. "This fight could signal a rebirth for boxing and the city of New Orleans. We could have one together. I told Ross Greenburg, 'Would you please tell Bob Arum that whenever this happens, we would be interested in making a proposal."
The message was passed and talks took place, and Arum is interested.
"Louisiana has a much smaller tax," said Arum to Fox Sports, "and Carville is talking to the governor about getting a waiver."
Dallas, Texas is another option where local officials want to bring the fight to Cowboys Stadium, which could hold more than 100,000 for a boxing event. Because there would be no tax involved in bringing the fight to Dallas, Top Rank will seriously consider that option.
Las Vegas is making a serious run as well. Arum is in touch with a Vegas-based group that is willing to build a temporary outdoor stadium to hold 30,000 people.
Other cities are making a run for the fight.
Arum has been contacted by representatives from Staples Center, Yankee Stadium, the Meadowlands and Citi Field. New York and New Jersey, because of the high tax involved, are very unlikely to receive any serious consideration.
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