The next time you bite into a hot dog at the Thomas & Mack Center, just know that it’s been touched by authority. No, not Oscar May— why would you even ask that? Oscar Mayer isn’t the Prime Minister of Hot Dogs. Not since died in the ‘50s, anyway.
Shawn Corr, one of two concession managers at the Thomas & Mack, is currently serving a yearlong term as president of the National Association of Collegiate Concessionaires (NACC).
A 16-year veteran of UNLV, Corr started out as a part-time worker at the arena before climbing the ladder. In 2012, he ran in a tight race for the NACC’s executive board (so tight the five-vote margin demanded aa recount). Executive board members start as secretary, automatically progressing every year through treasurer, vice-president and finally president.
Corr was spurred to run for the board because he was already fielding plenty of questions from among the association’s 72 member universities about the sale of alcohol at a campus facility.
“Handled correctly and managed, it's something most universities should do,” Corr said. “The fear is the cooperation of all departments involved. It's not just food and beverage. It's not just my person serving the beer. You have to have cooperation of the ushers to watch people and make sure they're not passing drinks off. The university police have to be available in case you need to cut somebody off.”
As president, Corr helped lead the association to refreshing its website and logo, and getting the organization on social media. He also helps organize the group’s annual conference, which moves from the Thomas & Mack this past June to the University of North Texas, run by former UNLV President Neal Smatresk — who had his school reach out to Corr about alcohol sales during games.
On the home front, Corr has helped shepherd forays into craft beer at various stands, and a dedicated healthy food stand, which has become so popular during basketball games that it has to sometimes be restocked in the middle of a game.
A longtime Rebels fan, Corr takes classes at UNLV regularly, finding time to sit in on business and marketing classes that have an impact on his day-to-day duties. It’s the kind of experience that’s the culmination of three decades spent in and around the university.
“This is the House that Tark built. It will always be the House that Tark built no matter what they have here,” Corr said. “I was in high school when we won in ‘90. As soon as we won I went to Washington, D.C., on a school trip, and I had my UNLV hat on representing it. It was a proud thing to say hey, this is my local university. I've always been UNLV.”
