Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Notable families donate $3 million for UNLV football training complex

UNLV Football Complex

UNLV

An artist’s rendering of the UNLV football training facility that will be known as the Fertitta Football Complex.

The new home of UNLV football has received three more significant gift pledges, the program announced today.

The $26 million Ferttita Football Complex received $3 million in gifts to bring total pledges to more than $17 million.

The new gifts include: $1.5 million for the Michael Gaughan Training Table, $1 million from the family trust of the late Geraldine K. Howard and $500,000 from George Maloof Jr., a former Rebel. The pledge from Howard will lead to a naming opportunity in honor of her late son, Dennis Lee Howard.

“When I first took this job two years ago, I talked about the importance of people across the valley stepping up to help us, and I couldn’t be more proud of the way that has materialized,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said in a statement. “We still have a ways to go to finish this thing out, but the vision and belief by those joining us on this journey has been tremendous to see.”

The school will break ground in the spring on the 73,000-square-foot, two-level complex. It will be built on campus at the north end of the team’s practice area and overlook the Ernie Becker Sr. Football Fields at Bill “Wildcat” Morris Rebel Park.

The Fertitta family pledged $10 million to the complex last fall — the largest single gift in UNLV athletics history.

“We’ve always said that this would take a community coming together, and I want to thank all of the local families who have joined the Fertittas in helping make this program-changing facility happen,” Athletic Director Tina Kunzer-Murphy said. “We are working hard to finish raising funds for this project and look forward to making more announcements so we can get shovels in the ground.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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