Tale of Two Football Teams: UNLV’s Winning Packs Stadium, Nevada’s Losing Empties Seats
The athletic programs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) are vital economic drivers for their communities, generating revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise. These funds support athletic operations and the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) budgets. Home games boost local businesses such as hotels and restaurants. However, team performance significantly influences attendance, sponsorships, and the economic benefits for game-day-dependent businesses. The football programs at UNLV and Nevada exemplify this contrast, with UNLV’s winning record driving strong fan turnout and revenue, while Nevada struggles with poor performance and low attendance, failing to fill even a fraction of their stadium.
In the 2024 football season, UNLV achieved an 11-3 record and won the LA Bowl 24-13 over Cal. In stark contrast, Nevada posted a 3-10 record, going 0-7 in conference play, marking their third consecutive season of limited conference success with just one win in 2023 and none in 2022. Nevada’s Mackay Stadium, with a capacity of 27K, saw significantly reduced attendance, averaging less than a third of capacity in some matchups. Meanwhile, UNLV’s success fueled a 28% attendance increase at Allegiant Stadium, a 65K-seat NFL venue, with a season total of 140K fans across six home games, including 34K against Boise State and over 40K for the Nevada rivalry game. These divergent performances underscore the programs’ contrasting impacts on local economies and fan engagement across the state.
University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval consistently highlights the critical role a vibrant athletic department plays in fostering university pride and community engagement. Despite this, the Nevada football program continues to falter, ranking among the nation’s worst college football teams for the third straight year, with minimal noticeable concern from the university to address these struggles. However, Nevada’s athletic department as a whole performs strongly, generating $53 million in revenue—surpassing UNLV’s $50 million—largely due to $25 million in institutional and state support, compared to UNLV’s estimated $15-20 million. UNLV offsets its lower public funding with $11 million in donations through the Rebel Athletic Fund and robust football ticket sales, though its higher $71 million in expenses results in a $20 million deficit, while Nevada’s $53 million in expenses yields a smaller $587K deficit.
While Nevada’s football program continues to sink, the university’s athletic department is investing heavily in its men’s basketball program by supporting the Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) Arena, a state-of-the-art 10K-seat venue set to open as the Wolf Pack’s new home by 2027. Funded by GSR owner Alex Meruelo’s $1 billion redevelopment of the Reno property—the city’s largest-ever private investment—this modern arena will host basketball games, concerts, and major events, replacing the outdated Lawlor Events Center.
The publicly funded Allegiant Stadium, opened in 2020, has revitalized UNLV football, enhancing recruiting, boosting revenue, and fostering a winning program with record-breaking attendance. Likewise, the GSR Arena is poised to transform Nevada’s men’s basketball program with cutting-edge facilities, increased revenue, and the potential to host NCAA Tournament games. These premier venues position both UNLV and Nevada for nationally competitive programs, where success drives attendance, fuels revenue, and supports Nevada’s economic vitality.
