The night of March 3, 1992 produced a strange confluence of emotions. A capacity crowd was on hand to say goodbye to Tark after 19 legendary years on the job. But it was Dr. Bob Maxson, the university president, who most in the packed house wanted to bid farewell -- and a not so fond one at that.
Evander Holyfield’s biggest storyline obviously came at the hands (make that mouth) of Mike Tyson, but the “The Real Deal” Holyfield had several other interesting bouts that didn’t require plastic surgery on his ear.
It was the summer of that year, a scorching mid-August week in Vegas, but no ticket was hotter than a ducat for Brooks’ electrifying shows at the Thomas & Mack Center.
While the potential existence of an NBA franchise in Las Vegas someday is a complete mystery, the league over the past five years has established unique roots in Sin City. Each July dating back to 2004, the Thomas & Mack Center and the Cox Pavilion have played home to one of the NBA's three summer leagues. There, the most loyal of die-hard fans go to watch stars in the making, plus some guys you may never hear from again ... at least not on this side of the Atlantic.
There might have been only one major UFC card held in the Thomas & Mack Center, but it was an event of epic proportions. On June 6, 2003, two of the sport's legendary stars met for their first of three battles when Randy Couture squared off against Chuck Liddell inside the Octagon in front of a crowd of nearly 10,000.
Over the past 15 years, the Thomas & Mack Center has held some of boxing's most memorable and lucrative prizefights. The very first one it hosted was neither.
That was the battle cry at the Thomas & Mack Center on Aug. 18, 2002 when Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, one of the most prolific touring acts of all time, hit town to promote "The Rising" CD.
February 17, 1997, amid the dizzying hype of former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian’s first game at the Thomas & Mack as a visiting coach, was Warren Rosegreen’s time to shine. He collected, often violently, 21 rebounds as the Rebels beat Fresno State 78-64 in a Western Athletic Conference battle in front of 18,024 at the T&M. It was the largest crowd in more than three years to see a game at the arena. “I’ll be over it,” Tarkanian said afterward. “I just wish we should’ve shot better. We haven’t rebounded well all year, so that’s nothing new. But I thought ...
On Jan. 25, 1984, a tall man, wearing the most colorful basketball uniform since the old ABA folded, chased another tall man all around the basketball court at the Thomas & Mack Center.
You Little Hulksters, just don’t get too close to the action on the rails of the Thomas & Mack Center! That may or may not have been the request over the speakers on March 21, 1987, when wrestling made its debut in the arena and 14,434 attended the event that featured Hulk Hogan.
Sometimes, things have gotten downright political. Stump speeches and agendas have pushed past “Tark” and taken over the Thomas & Mack floor to the tune of more than 10,000 people.
