Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Rebels Athletics:

UNLV acknowledges effort to bring stadium, football to campus

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Neal Smatresk

UNLV is in early discussions to build a football stadium on campus and renovate the Thomas & Mack Center, school officials confirmed Wednesday.

President Neal Smatresk said in a statement that the school and entrepreneurs Ed Roski and Craig Cavileer are exploring a "public-private partnership" to build a multipurpose sports and entertainment complex on campus and to renovate UNLV's basketball arena. Caliveer is the president of the Silverton Casino Hotel and Lodge, which Roski owns.

"This is an attractive proposition. UNLV long has been interested in bringing UNLV football to the main campus," Smatresk said. "This will allow us to build on our success, bring more visitors to Las Vegas and retain the events that place the Thomas & Mack among the top grossing college arenas in the world."

Sun columnist Jon Ralston first reported Tuesday that Roski was interested in partnering with UNLV to build a domed stadium near campus.

Roski, a billionaire who ranked 524th on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires in 2008, has recently garnered headlines for his efforts to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles.

Terry Murphy, a representative for Roski, also confirmed Wednesday that discussions were under way, but declined to comment further.

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