Las Vegas tourism chief, Steve Hill, is set to interview with the lead investigator on Tuesday regarding potential WNBA rules violations in sponsorship deals offered to Las Vegas Aces players. The controversy arose when Hill announced a $100,000 sponsorship for each player over the next two years from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, sparking an investigation by the WNBA through the law firm Kobre & Kim.

The investigation, led by Steven Kobre, aims to determine if the sponsorship deals breached the league’s salary-cap regulations, with the total sponsorship exceeding the average annual value of five Aces players’ contracts. Despite the scrutiny, Hill, the CEO and President of LVCVA, asserts that the authority adhered to WNBA policies, independently arranging the agreements with players’ agents.

Hill emphasized the legitimacy of the sponsorship agreements, highlighting the commitment made to the players and the acknowledgment of their contributions to promotional activities. While the Aces were informed of the sponsorship offers beforehand, specific details were not disclosed until later. Prior to finalizing the deals, the Aces requested sponsorship for the team itself to access branding rights and other assets for promotional purposes, a practice consistent with agreements involving other sports franchises in Las Vegas.

As discussions continue between the LVCVA and the Aces, Hill remains resolute in upholding the sponsorship commitments and defending the authority’s actions, affirming that the process was conducted in accordance with WNBA guidelines. The outcome of the investigation will shed light on the compliance of the sponsorship deals with league regulations and the implications for the involved parties.