After years of anticipation — plus an unexpected delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — the UNLV football program soon will be flexing in its new home stadium. Allegiant Stadium, offering arguably the finest college football amenities in the sport, completed major construction in July. It is introducing itself to the nation tonight as the Las Vegas Raiders' play their first home game during NFL Monday Night Football.
The Rebels, under new head coach Marcus Arroyo, are looking forward to their first turn taking on rivals inside the $2 billion, glass-walled palace. The Mountain West Conference has announced it is working on a return-to-play plan for its member schools.
UNLV football — after playing its first season in 1968 at long-gone Cashman Field then lining up at Las Vegas High School for a bit before spending nearly 50 years at Sam Boyd Stadium — will now be competing closer to home than ever before. The world-class facility is located a little over three miles from campus.
The covered, 1.75 million-square-feet stadium features four gigantic Lanai doors in the north end that can slide open to fully show off the world famous Las Vegas Strip in the background. (Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services)
UNLV will play its game on a Rebel-branded artificial turf field that is rolled up and stored when the Raiders’ field tray of natural grass slides into the stadium for NFL games. (Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services)
The Rebels will have a dedicated locker room at Allegiant Stadium. The 7,200-square-feet space features 100 player lockers, two training rooms, a permanent equipment room and multiple staff areas. (Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services)
UNLV logos will be featured on the 254-by-48-foot south video board and two 122-by-78-foot boards in the north end as well as the 2,100 feet of LED ribbon boards inside the stadium. (Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services)
Marcus Arroyo, who helped guide the Oregon Ducks to a Pac-12 Conference championship and Rose Bowl victory last season as offensive coordinator, was hired in December to be UNLV’s 12th head football coach in history. (Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services)
College athletics is in the midst of an on-the-fly industry makeover. Three UNLV coaches share their thoughts about competing on a new — and still-developing — playing field.
From paying and retaining student-athletes to the nonstop conference affiliation carousel, modern-day athletics directors are playing a brand-new game. And UNLV’s Erick Harper is in it to win it.
