Sparks Chamber of Commerce members on Wednesday envisioned the future of the city's prized development, The Legends at Sparks Marina, and marveled at its progress with the announcement of 22 new tenants committed to the project.

At a luncheon following Sparks Mayor Geno Martini's State of the City address, Dave Claflin, vice president of marketing for RED, revealed seven bars, restaurants and entertainment venues, 14 retailers and one recreational vehicle to be added to the 148-acre, $1.2 billion development.

"We could not be more excited to be a part of this community," Claflin said.

The new tenants include Saks Off Fifth, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Ann Taylor, AT&T, Banana Republic, Gap, Patsy Grimaldi's Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria, Dickinson Theatres with IMAX, the Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar, Strasburg Children, Tuscanos Brazilian Grill, Blowfish Sushi, Hofbräuhaus, Olive Garden, Best Buy, Deegie's Carma, Jones New York, Anne Klein, Easy Spirit, Nine West and Mountain Family RV.

The Legends at Sparks Marina is expected to attract 800,000 visitors annually and produce $600 million in taxable sales.

Plans for the project include a 1,000-room hotel-casino, a 7,500-seat indoor arena and a number of retail, dining and entertainment outlets. The arena will be conducive for ice hockey and skating programs, livestock, monster truck shows and other athletic events.

"It'll be a sweet spot for entertainment," Claflin said.

At the heart of the site, a central light tower piece will attract attention from afar to the development at 1555 E. Lincoln Way, at the intersection of the Interstate 80 and Sparks Boulevard.

The project will also display some of the state's icons. Tribute will paid to Mark Twain, John Mackay and John Ferris, the inventor of the Ferris wheel. Thunderbird planes will be mounted on pylons in homage to the Reno Air Races.

In addition, the destination retail center will depict selected members of Nevada wildlife, such as bighorn sheep and trout, and landscapes that reflect its cultural and geological characteristics to create a natural and comfortable environment for leisure.

"It'll be a place for you to linger, where the kids can buy an ice cream cone and where your wife can go shopping," he said.

During his presentation, Claflin described the success of RED's most recently completed project from 2006, Legends at Village West in Kansas City, Kan.

"You have to visit it to believe it, to understand it," he said. "It's a case of the sum being truly greater than its parts."

RED Development takes into a consideration a number of factors about the region when choosing its projects. In the case of Kansas City, Claflin said the area had no jobs, a high crime rate and needed to use sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds to revitalize the area. It now attracts more than 10 million visitors annually from all over the nation, Claflin said, calling it a "lifestyle center."

Mayor Geno Martini, who appeared at the luncheon and gave a summary of his State of the City address from Wednesday morning, said, "2008 remains a year to celebrate for Sparks. This event is truly cause for celebration."

Construction has begun with the 240,000-square-foot Scheels All Sports store expected to open in October. The store will offer sportswear and gear, shooting galleries, simulators and a taxidermy mountain with running streams.