In 1983, the Thomas & Mack Center was ready to open its doors in Las Vegas. This arena was the brainchild of two prominent Nevada bankers, E. Parry Thomas and Jerome D. Mack, who provided the initial funding for feasibility studies and land acquisition. After years of planning, the arena finally celebrated its grand opening in December 1983 with a star-studded gala featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Diana Ross.
Since its inception, the Thomas & Mack Center has hosted a wide variety of events, including concerts, festivals, conventions, and boxing matches. The versatility of the arena is evident in its flexible capacity – over 18k for boxing and other center-stage spectacles and 17,000 for basketball games.Â
Over the decades, the venue has undergone periodic renovations and upgrades. A major renovation in 1999 gave the arena’s interior and exterior a face-lift. The most recent round of improvements came in 2008, with the installation of state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. The upgrades included a massive 4-sided center scoreboard with LED screens, new LED ring displays, upgraded scorer’s tables and shot clocks, locker room game clocks, custom scoreboards, and an outdoor LED video billboard.Â
The Thomas & Mack Center has had a rich history of occupancy, which includes some of the biggest sports franchises in Las Vegas. The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels is the first tenant, and, interestingly, they also happen to be the longest-running tenants as they occupy the arena to this day. They co-occupied the venue with UNLV Lady Rebels in 1983, but the latter moved out in 2001. They’re currently co-tenants with the NBA Summer League, which moved in 2004.Â
Experience the thrill of live sports and entertainment at the Thomas & Mack Center, where every seat feels like the front row – secure your spot today for an unbeatable atmosphere!
