Thomas & Mack Center

Thomas & Mack Center is a premier multi-purpose arena located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Paradise, Nevada. Opened in 1983, it is named for notable Nevada businessmen and philanthropists E. Parry Thomas and Jerry Mack. The venue serves as the home court for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball teams and hosts a wide array of major sporting events, concerts, and family shows, solidifying its status as a cornerstone of the Las Vegas Valley entertainment landscape.

History

Planning for the arena began in the late 1970s to provide a modern home for the rapidly growing UNLV athletics program, particularly the nationally prominent UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's basketball team under coach Jerry Tarkanian. Financed through a combination of state bonds and private donations, construction broke ground in 1981. The facility was named for bankers E. Parry Thomas and Jerry Mack, whose First Interstate Bank was instrumental in financing much of the early development of the Las Vegas Strip. Since its opening, it has undergone several renovations, including significant upgrades to seating, concourses, and premium areas like the Club Level and suites to maintain its competitive edge. The arena's history is deeply intertwined with the rise of UNLV as a major university and the expansion of Las Vegas as a host for premier national events.

Design and features

Designed by the architectural firm Marnell Corrao Associates, the structure features a distinctive oval-shaped, cable-suspended roof that allows for a column-free interior and unobstructed sightlines. The original seating configuration was specifically optimized for basketball, creating an intense home-court advantage famously known as the "Runnin' Rebel Roar." Key features include a central Daktronics video scoreboard, over 30 luxury suites, and the Cox Pavilion practice facility attached directly to the main building. The arena floor can be configured for various events, from basketball and concerts to rodeos like the National Finals Rodeo, and it includes dedicated locker room facilities for teams and performers. Its location on Maryland Parkway provides direct access to major freeways including Interstate 15 and is served by the RTC Transit system.

Events

The venue has hosted a diverse calendar of events since its inception. It is the longtime home of the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) from 1985 to 2019, a major event in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association history. It has staged numerous world championship boxing matches, including bouts involving Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Manny Pacquiao. The arena regularly hosts major concerts by top artists such as The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, and Garth Brooks. It is also the home of the NBA Summer League, where future stars from the National Basketball Association compete. Other notable events include the Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament, NCAA Tournament regional rounds, and family shows like Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Tenants

The primary and original tenant is the UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's and women's basketball programs of the Mountain West Conference. From 1983 to 2001, it served as the occasional home field for the Las Vegas Stars (later the Las Vegas 51s) Pacific Coast League baseball team, with a temporary diamond constructed on the arena floor. Professional indoor football teams have also called it home, including the Las Vegas Sting and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League. Since 2004, it has been a primary venue for the NBA Summer League, featuring teams from across the National Basketball Association. The UNLV athletic department offices and the Thomas & Mack Center staff manage all operations for these tenants and event promoters.

Notable moments

The arena was the site of the UNLV Runnin' Rebels' dominant national championship season in 1990, culminating in a victory over Duke University in the title game in Denver. It hosted the famous 1997 boxing rematch between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, infamously known as "The Bite Fight." In 1991, it was the venue for the NBA All-Star Game, bringing the league's biggest stars to Las Vegas for the first time. The Grateful Dead performed a historic 12-show run there in 1995, a record for the band at a single venue. During the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend, it hosted the Rookie Challenge and other associated events, further cementing its relationship with the National Basketball Association.

Category:Arenas in Nevada Category:University of Nevada, Las Vegas Category:Buildings and structures in Paradise, Nevada