UNLV Sells Sam Boyd Stadium for $5 Million

Photo byLas Vegas Sun News

The Stadium was named after Sam Boyd, a prominent Las Vegas hotel owner and gaming pioneer. The facility has evolved, and its seating capacity has increased from 15,000 to 40,000. Built in 1971 for $3.5 million, it debuted in October of the same year and was dedicated a year later at UNLV Football’s home opener.

UNLV and Clark County have agreed on a $5 million price to sell Sam Boyd Stadium and the surrounding land to Clark County. The deal is expected to close in the next six months.

Photo byLas Vegas Sun News

Originally known as Las Vegas Stadium, the name was changed to Las Vegas Silver Bowl in 1978, Sam Boyd Silver Bowl in 1984, and Sam Boyd Stadium on April 26, 1994.

The Stadium was home to the UNLV Rebel Football team, the Las Vegas Bowl game, the Monster Jam World Finals, the AMA Supercross Series Finals, and the Vegoose music festival.

The Grateful Dead played at the Stadium from 1991 to 1995. High-profile Stadium concerts include the Eagles, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, Beck, Jack Johnson, Tom Petty, The Killers, Metallica, U2, Rage Against The Machine, Daft Punk, and The Roots.

Photo byConcert Archives

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.”

Photo byKTNV

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.

UNLV and Clark County initially discussed a deal for the Stadium in 2022, 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 several things would have to happen, similar federal-county cooperation could determine how the stadium site is 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

The proposed sale will not be discussed at the NSHE meeting on Sept. 5-6. It is designated as an informational item on the agenda.

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Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer & journalist based on the West Coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, equestrian & rodeo, and millionaire travel.

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