UNLV looking at Sam Boyd Stadium sale to Clark County for $5 million

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — They’ve agreed on a $5 million price tag, and a deal for UNLV to sell Sam Boyd Stadium and the surrounding land to Clark County is expected within six months.

UNLV has played football games at Allegiant Stadium since 2020, and maintaining the old stadium site cost $500,000 in the year ending June 30, 2024. So the sale agreement outlined in the agenda for a Sept. 5-6 meeting in Carson City makes sense for the Nevada Higher Education System (NSHE).

UNLV’s agreement with Allegiant Stadium requires the university to cease operations at Sam Boyd Stadium, and UNLV has received $1.94 million “waterfall” payments.

The site in the southeast valley previously belonged to the county, and could have many possible uses. The stadium was once called the Silver Bowl.

A deal for the stadium was initially discussed in 2022 by UNLV and Clark County, and a series of appraisals led to the $5 million price — including one appraisal commissioned by the county that said the value of the land was $0 because of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requirements attached to the property.

A deal emerged in recent months allowing BLM to sell land for affordable housing at $100 an acre. While a number of things would have to happen, similar federal-county cooperation could figure into how the stadium site is ultimately used.

UNLV officials are already thinking about how they could spend $5 million:

• Allocations for scholarships and financial aid programs
• Improvements to campus facilities
• Increases in academic advising, tutoring, and mental health services
• Initiatives aimed at helping underrepresented and disadvantaged students
• Increased funding for community engagement programs

When NSHE meets on Sept. 5-6, they will not act on the proposed sale. It is designated as an informational item on the agenda.

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