Will Adelson compete with MGM/AEG arena?

The hottest rumor on the Strip?

Which local billionaire is in serious discussions about building a major arena to compete with MGM Resorts/AEG’s $350 million, 20,000-seat project?

I’m betting it’s Sheldon Adelson, who built The Venetian in 1999 and spent another billion-plus in 2008 on The Palazzo.

It makes sense on many levels that Adelson would make the move.

For one, he’s one of the richest men in the world with a net worth near a reported $30 billion.

And given Adelson’s competitive history, it seems unlikely he would concede the new arena business to MGM Resorts/AEG.

OSCAR, HARRY FEUD

Oscar Goodman and Harry Reid were not on speaking terms for 20 years.

They didn’t break the ice until Goodman, a longtime mob attorney, became mayor of Las Vegas in 1999.

Goodman revealed details of the falling out during his latest dinner speaking series Thursday at Oscar’s Beef, Booze &Broads at the Plaza.

Goodman brought up the story while slamming Nevada’s notorious Black Book — his topic of the night — as “a scourge that I believe never took place anyplace else in America either before or since.”

Reid had become chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission in 1977.

Federal authorities were cracking down on organized crime’s influence in Las Vegas in 1978, and the Reid-led commission held a hearing on why mobbed-up Frank Rosenthal was running the Stardust without a gaming license.

Goodman was representing Rosenthal, who got into it with Reid.

Goodman suddenly found himself being pulled into a chaotic storm of events.

While he was finishing a trial in Utah in late October, he was called to New York for a big event.

While in New York, he got a call that the 6-year-old son of prominent Las Vegas businessman Sol Sayegh had been kidnapped. Goodman at the time was representing Sayegh, who had been indicted for attempting to bribe Reid for $12,000.

“I was at my wit’s end, to be honest,” Goodman told the dinner crowd.

“Can you imagine leaving a trial and flying to New York, getting involved in a kidnapping, having to get involved representing Rosenthal. With all of the pressures, I called up Reid and said, ‘You know what, I’d like to have just a week to rest up.’ I said, ‘Harry, I’m exhausted,’ and he said, ‘No, we’re going to bring Rosenthal before us.’ My wife called him and he said, ‘I’d like to help you but I can’t help you, no,’ and from that point forward until the time until I became the mayor, Reid and myself did not speak.

“Because of the fact that he wouldn’t give me a week in order to recuperate.”

Rosenthal later was added to the Black Book.

“Once again,” Goodman said, “it was a sad day for Nevada because they were just after him for his relationship with (mobster Tony) Spilotro.”

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Crush bartender John O’Donnell waves the Irish flag anytime he gets a chance. He’s been referring to the MGM Grand restaurant as “O’Crush” since Irish UFC sensation Conor McGregor upped his record to 17-2 last month with a win over Dennis Siver. That set up a July showdown with featherweight champ Jose Aldo.

SIGHTINGS

Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, dining with friends at Carmine’s (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Friday. There’s chatter that Peterson could be signed by the Dallas Cowboys should they not retain Las Vegan DeMarco Murray, the NFL’s leading rusher this season. Peterson was suspended in November after pleading no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault for injuries to his 4-year-old son. ... At Andrea’s (Encore at Wynn Las Vegas) on Friday: Enrique Iglesias, with a group, and Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, with a couple. ... Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, with his wife at N9ne Steakhouse (Palms) on Friday. Trish Regan, host of Bloomberg TV’s “Street Smart,” dining with her husband, James Ben, at Aureole (Mandalay Bay) on Friday. ... Wilmer Valderrama, celebrating his 35th birthday with girlfriend Demi Lovato at Tao (The Venetian) on Friday. They were in town for UFC 183 Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden. Also in town: Ken Griffey Jr., Usher, football great Thurman Thomas and boxer Roy Jones Jr. ... Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers at Crush on Saturday. ... At the 7th annual MMA Awards at The Venetian theater on Friday: Joey Fatone and co-presenters Sabina Kelley and “Sons of Anarchy” star Emilio Rivera. ... Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, hanging out with waitresses and bussers at the service bar after his 1:15 a.m. set at Light (Mandalay Bay) early Saturday. Also at Light: Bravo reality star Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi of “Shahs of Sunset” as well as “Die Hard” actor Robert Davi.

THE PUNCH LINE

“If you want to go to the Super Bowl in Phoenix, it will cost you a lot of money, double what they were last year. The average asking price is around $6,000 per ticket. Do people not know the game is on television this year?” — Jimmy Kimmel

Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter.