UNLV T&M renovations article

[McPeachy]

$47 million...wow. This is the 3rd major renovation for that facility:

1. 1999 - $27 million (seats, concessions, roof, appearance)
2. 2008 - $18 million (complete modernization / visual equipment enhancements)
3. Current

http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/thomas-mack-poised-get-47-million-face-lift

Article says it hosts roughly 100 days of events - maybe that is the key. But then, that would take balls / vision / hard work / typical common sense. So forget it.

 

[TheRealUW]

It doesn't hurt being in a major metropolitan area that is well known for being the entertainment capital of the world.

 

[CowboyNV]

$47 million...wow. This is the 3rd major renovation for that facility:

1. 1999 - $27 million (seats, concessions, roof, appearance)
2. 2008 - $18 million (complete modernization / visual equipment enhancements)
3. Current

http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/thomas-mack-poised-get-47-million-face-lift

Article says it hosts roughly 100 days of events - maybe that is the key. But then, that would take balls / vision / hard work / typical common sense. So forget it.

They are trying to stay one step ahead of the competition as well. There are plenty of options in Las Vegas for basketball, so the folks at the T&M will not be caught asleep at the wheel.

Some of the other arenas in Las Vegas:

MGM Grand Garden Arena - 16,000
Mandalay Bay Arena - 12,000
Citizens Business Bank Arena - 10,800
Orleans Arena - 9,500

There are two other proposed arenas that are in various phases of development.

A proposed 22,000 seat venue at the old Wet'n'Wild site on the strip (begin breaking ground in 2014)
A proposed 20,000 seat MGM -AEG Arena in Paradise (2016 completion date)

If all of this comes together, that means appoximately 6 arenas with roughly 90,000 seats available for basketball (not counting the Thomas and Mack). That's a lot of capacity for even a metropolitan area like Las Vegas, especially when you throw another 20,000+ seats from the T&M in the mix. The next few years should prove to be interesting here in Nevada.

 

[HighPlainsDrifter]

$47 million...wow. This is the 3rd major renovation for that facility:

Article says it hosts roughly 100 days of events - maybe that is the key. But then, that would take balls / vision / hard work / typical common sense. So forget it.

Good grief. Comparing T&M's ability to attract events to the AAs is absurd. Las Vegas attracts 40 million visitors a year. Laramie is nice little college town of 30K. Complete apples and oranges.

 

[Wyovanian]

The T&M is the second-highest grossing arena in the U.S. (only to Madison Square Garden). It doesn't hurt, however, to be in a city with so much built-in attraction for many different kinds of sports fans. It also hosts ice skating productions, MMA and boxing events, concerts, and several convention/ exposition events a year. Laramie simply lacks the population and geography to support that much activity. UW could to a better job at booking music acts and perhaps some moto-cross events, but everything else is pretty much a non-starter.

Until Laramie gets an international airport and lands a Garth Brooks residency at the AA, there's no way we could approach the kind of numbers the T&M generates.

It will, however, be very interesting to see the impact the new arena MGM is building will have on the T&M. There's already a lot of talk about the NFR (the T&M's second-biggest tenant) relocating to the larger arena closer to the hotels. I'd have to believe Craig Thompson is at least following this pretty closely with a change of venue in mind. Keep in mind that despite all of the revenue the T&M generates, UNLV's athletic department still relies heavily on subsidies to stay out of the red. The money for the work on the T&M comes in a lot of help from Gaming Inc. and the LVCVA.

 

[SnowyRange]

Article says it hosts roughly 100 days of events - maybe that is the key. But then, that would take balls / vision / hard work / typical common sense. So forget it.

Yes, there is no explanation for why a little hard work couldn't have us hosting, in the next 6 months -- among other events -- the Harlem Globetrotters, The Roadshow, WWE Live, the ProSoccer Challenge, the MWC tournaments, Monster Jam World Finals, Disney on Ice, Supercross Finals, Monster Energy Cup and the PBR World Finals.

Now some settle-for-mediocrity types will claim it has to do with Laramie lacking dozens of huge casinos, 100,000 hotel rooms, world class dining, and a temperature that is pleasant year round (except when it's too hot and you have stay inside the strip clubs), but this is crazy talk.

We all know this is Burman's fault.

 

[Wyovanian]

$47 million...wow. This is the 3rd major renovation for that facility:

1. 1999 - $27 million (seats, concessions, roof, appearance)
2. 2008 - $18 million (complete modernization / visual equipment enhancements)
3. Current

http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/thomas-mack-poised-get-47-million-face-lift

Article says it hosts roughly 100 days of events - maybe that is the key. But then, that would take balls / vision / hard work / typical common sense. So forget it.

They are trying to stay one step ahead of the competition as well. There are plenty of options in Las Vegas for basketball, so the folks at the T&M will not be caught asleep at the wheel.

Some of the other arenas in Las Vegas:

MGM Grand Garden Arena - 16,000
Mandalay Bay Arena - 12,000
Citizens Business Bank Arena - 10,800
Orleans Arena - 9,500

There are two other proposed arenas that are in various phases of development.

A proposed 22,000 seat venue at the old Wet'n'Wild site on the strip (begin breaking ground in 2014)
A proposed 20,000 seat MGM -AEG Arena in Paradise (2016 completion date)

If all of this comes together, that means appoximately 6 arenas with roughly 90,000 seats available for basketball (not counting the Thomas and Mack). That's a lot of capacity for even a metropolitan area like Las Vegas, especially when you throw another 20,000+ seats from the T&M in the mix. The next few years should prove to be interesting here in Nevada.

Is the Citizens Business Bank Arena the riding arena at the South Point?

There are actually two proposed arenas in LV- the one on the old Wet & Wild site and one downtown. MGM's is a done deal. They are currently working on the surrounding amenities and vehicular egress. The other two will never happen.

 

[McPeachy]

$47 million...wow. This is the 3rd major renovation for that facility:

Article says it hosts roughly 100 days of events - maybe that is the key. But then, that would take balls / vision / hard work / typical common sense. So forget it.

Good grief. Comparing T&M's ability to attract events to the AAs is absurd. Las Vegas attracts 40 million visitors a year. Laramie is nice little college town of 30K. Complete apples and oranges.

Really? Where is the comparison between the AA / T&M?

Oh, I know where it is. It is in another thread that talks about the AA being the premier top facility / frontrunner in the MWC when the renovations are complete. That simply is not even close to being true. Apples and oranges indeed.

Further, why did I bring it up? To question / challenge if we (UW) are half-assing the AA renovations, like others have been half-assed.

Don't you think the AA could get more than the 30 (or so) days of events to supplement revenue & income? Surely you are not a good-enough is good-enough person, or you wouldn't post here.

 

[stymeman]

probably had to do this in order to keep the NFR there

 

[VisorHair]

Majority of the 1st phase for the TMC remodel is electric, and vastly outdated infrastructure needs. Anything cosmetic won't happen immediately. There will be a slight re-seating due to suite enhancements and the relocation of the student section (behind visiting basket in 2nd half), the band and the media to enhance the atmosphere. These are 110% needed improvements, not just for UNLV hoops, but in order to compete with the other horses in town. MGM is trying it's damndest to create a wave, and they're slowly succeeding. However, the TMC's crew has a great relationship with the empowering LVCVA which holds a ton of weight. With the naming of the new President at UNLV, the football stadium will happen eventually. He was the lead on the stadium project and will continue to drive that wagon - It's just a matter of time. Once the surrounding hotels are on board it'll be a go. The economical impact the stadium would present to the strip is crazy.

 

[BackHarlowRoad]

I don't think McPeacy was saying we need to be able to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors per year and have the AA hosting big time events and concerts.

I can think of a few things we could host in the AA that we don't though. Globetrotters, supercross, and rodeo are all examples, albeit not world championships. Hell, I watched the globetrotters at Western Wyo growing up.

 

[VisorHair]

I don't think McPeacy was saying we need to be able to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors per year and have the AA hosting big time events and concerts.

I can think of a few things we could host in the AA that we don't though. Globetrotters, supercross, and rodeo are all examples, albeit not world championships. Hell, I watched the globetrotters at Western Wyo growing up.

Hard to house external events in arena when the men's and women's teams don't have an external practice facility to practice in. Can't kick the teams out albeit a short NCAA mandated time period to where they can't practice.. even then, wouldn't be wise to force the two program's SA's to fight over shooting time and such at Half Acre.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

You could probably host a lot of stuff on the weekends out of season. Teams aren't going to be on the court Sat/Sun out of season, but if they need to, the MPG would work fine. That gives you all weekend to host time-intensive events like rodeo, supercross, large concerts, etc. And small concerts, presentations, speakers, etc. only need a few hours for setup and tear down, so any night of the week works for them.

 

[stymeman]

it would be nice to get a few more "bigger" concerts in Laramie, I remember seeing Garth there, that was a fun nite(i think..lol)

 

[BackHarlowRoad]

Yeah our teams don't practice all day everyday. The MPG is, in fact, an external practice facility. It's just not fancy and isn't utilized.

 

[VisorHair]

Yeah our teams don't practice all day everyday. The MPG is, in fact, an external practice facility. It's just not fancy and isn't utilized.

And that's why Shy was promised and will be given an updated court to utilize for practice situations. Current court in the AA isn't wide enough to house enough baskets for drills. Tell Joe and Larry to send their kids to the MPG.. good luck.

 

[BackHarlowRoad]

Yeah our teams don't practice all day everyday. The MPG is, in fact, an external practice facility. It's just not fancy and isn't utilized.

And that's why Shy was promised and will be given an updated court to utilize for practice situations. Current court in the AA isn't wide enough to house enough baskets for drills. Tell Joe and Larry to send their kids to the MPG.. good luck.

A couple hours in the MPG every few weeks...in the offseason? Not a big deal in my opinion. Shit it's the offseason, have individual workouts in the MPG to make sure you have room instead of the whole team if it's that big of a concern.

Alternative: A 12,000 seat complete waste of space for 330 days of the year.