Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve Sebelius makes a valid point about why Las Vegas should retain former Sen. Pat McCarran’s name at McCarran Airport rather than rename it Las Vegas International Airport. However, there’s a way to eat our cake and have it, too…
Just add “Las Vegas” instead of dropping “McCarran.”
It’s certainly been done before: For example, there’s Reagan National Airport which was formerly just National Airport, as well as Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport which was formerly just Baltimore-Washington International.
So move over McCarran International Airport and welcome to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.
As for the argument against the name change because of the anticipated expense: please. The estimated $3 million would be a drop in the airport’s advertising budget, especially with all the new revenue coming from billboards and other signage at the new T-3 terminal. Wouldn’t have to cost taxpayers a dime.
As Yule Brenner would say, so let it be written; so let it be done.