LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Sam Boyd Stadium has seen over 43 seasons of UNLV Rebel Football, but the team's time on the field is ticking through the last quarter of their time at the stadium.
“If the Rebels leave Sam Boyd Stadium, I don’t see much of a future,” says Steve Budin.
13 Action News Financial Analyst Steve Budin says the future 65,000-seat home of the Rebels and Raiders could wipe Sam Boyd Stadium from existence.
“I think that there’s so many other venues around town that are more modern, more traffic accessible, more population centric that give the other venues much more of an advantage,” says Budin.
Sam Boyd's located about 30 minutes east of the Strip near Boulder and Russell on the edge of the Las Vegas valley.
Locations like the Thomas and Mack Center and T-Mobile Arena already pose a threat to event time at the stadium.
While not used for football, both locations are already hosts to multiple sporting events, concerts and award shows.
“Where the stadium is located there isn’t much else out there in terms of entertainment venues,” says Budin.
In 2015, Sam Boyd underwent improvements to the field including wider sidelines and a new playing surface.
Budin says that might not be enough, a loss to the turfs like the school’s football team may have UNLV pursuing other options.
“I’d strongly consider selling the land, I would take those resources and recommit them to fixing up some of the other facilities on campus,” says Budin. “If it doesn’t generate any income, or produce anything lets move on to something bigger and better.”
UNLV could not confirm with 13 Action News the future of the stadium will be.
The Raiders Stadium is slated for completion in July of 2020.
