Press box implosion marks start of stadium renovations

New UNLV football coach John Robinson has been busy trying to upgrade the talent of his new football team recently.

Tuesday afternoon, Robinson took a brief break from recruiting to take part in ceremonies signalling the start of the $18.5 million upgrade and renovation of Sam Boyd Stadium.

"I just hope we make as big an explosion (as a team) as they make today," Robinson said shortly before Pat Christenson, director of the Thomas & Mack Center, pushed the switch on a device that imploded the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Although the main refurbishing of the 40,000-seat stadium won't get under way until mid-February after a re-bidding process on the project is completed, Christensen said the stadium will be ready in time for UNLV's Sept. 18 home opener against Iowa State.

"There will be a game here Sept. 18," Christenson said. "The stadium will be completed Sept. 18. I think the delay we had in construction is just that ... a delay. The stadium will still be completed for the September 18 game."

Bill Glatts, the project manager, said construction should begin around Feb. 19, about 10 days after the new bids are opened.

"We'll have about 240 days to complete this thing," Glatts said. "The major construction will be done in time by the September 18 game. The entire project should be done by October 20."

A major part of the refurbishing will be the installation of a state-of-the-art press box, similar to one recently installed at famed Notre Dame Stadium, which will also include at least 16 luxury suites and a club level with another 488 seats.

Already 12 of the 16 suites, priced at $45,000 and good for all events at the stadium, have been sold according to Christenson.

"We may have to add another phase of suites," he said.

Club seats, priced at $3,500 and $2,000 apiece per year, have also drawn strong interest.

Although UNLV football games are the cornerstone for the project, Christenson said major concerts, NFL exhibition games and international soccer games are also being targeted as possible attractions.

Robinson is banking on the new surroundings, which will also include the installation of a grass field, a new video replay board, refurbished locker rooms, new seats, new restroom and concessions facilities as well as improved parking and tailgating areas, will help him sell the program to potential recruits and fans.

"Welcome everybody to what I hope is one small step forward among many steps that will put our program among the best in the nation," Robinson said. "That's certainly our goal. This is certainly an example of the kind of action and the kind of dynamic behavior that I think we all need to make this program succeed the way we want it to.

"For me, this is a time to reflect on the future ... what can happen here, what can become one of the most exciting and most difficult stadiums to visit. The stands are close. You can imagine 42,000 people standing down in the end zone. We bring our own referees, we get every advantage we can possibly think of to make it very difficult for anybody to get in and out of this stadium except us.

"We have a long way to go to get to the level where we're a nationally ranked team. We will get there. We will do these things. And this is an important step forward in that effort. I applaud the people who have made this happen. To have such a dynamic improvement and to have it all paid for is exciting."

Longtime Sun sportswriter Steve Carp, who spent many a long afternoon and evening in the outdated and undersized press surroundings, was given the honor of taking the ceremonial first swing with a hammer at a wall from the press box.

A few moments later, Christenson pushed down a device to ignite the implosion of the pressbox. After a few loud bangs and the firing of some fireworks, the structure finally collapsed to a round of applause.

"This implosion signifies the past and really takes a look at the future," Christenson said.

The last major event in the old Sam Boyd Stadium, according to Glatts, is expected to be a soon-to-be-announced May 8 concert featuring country music star George Strait.

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