New stadium would make UNLV’s Sanchez feel like $1 billion

Perhaps nobody was more thrilled Thursday about the proposal by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. to build a $1 billion domed stadium with at least 65,000 seats near UNLV that would be home to the school's football team — and possibly the Oakland Raiders — than Tony Sanchez.

The second-year Rebels football coach said having what would essentially be an on-campus stadium on 42 acres UNLV recently purchased on Tropicana Avenue east of Koval Lane would be a huge benefit not only to the football program but to the city, school and student body.

"The fact that those conversations are going on between the Sands and UNLV, it's an exciting thing. If it comes to fruition, it would be an amazing thing," Sanchez said. "It would really help us with recruiting at the highest level and would provide a venue that people would be talking about for a long time. It would be one of the most unique venues in college football.

"(An on-campus stadium) changes the dynamic of game day for the student body. It's so easy for them to walk on over. It's right in the heart of Vegas and would create a really unique game day atmosphere."

Sam Boyd Stadium, UNLV's current football home, is about nine miles from campus.

"Sam Boyd's a great venue. It's a nice college football stadium, but the location is just a little far away," Sanchez said. "Being right next to the Thomas & Mack Center right near campus is accessible for so many people."

UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy said the proposed stadium would be a "game changer for the Rebels football program," which has produced only two winning seasons in the past 21 years.

"To have something on campus, or close by, would be a tremendous asset in trying to rebuild the football program," she said. "I know our leadership has been working with the private sector on this. What a wonderful benefit that would be not only to the Las Vegas community but to our program for recruiting and for our students and staff to be able to have access.

"It would just be a fabulous addition moving forward as we focus on our football program."

If the stadium comes to fruition, Sanchez envisions it hosting college bowl games, NFL Pro Bowls and even Super Bowls.

"Think of the events that would come to our campus and to our city. It would be unbelievable," he said. "The whole conversation is pretty exciting."

Sanchez, who happened to be a Raiders fan growing up in the Bay Area, said sharing a stadium with the Raiders or another NFL team "would be nothing but a positive."

"A lot of schools have done that. Arizona State did it for a long time," Sanchez said. "Anything that stimulates the economy and drives more people into the city is a positive."

After moving to Arizona in 1988, the Cardinals had played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State before moving into the University of Phoenix Stadium in 2006.

Mark Davis, owner of the Raiders, is scheduled to meet with Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson today, possibly to discuss stadium details.

"To have discussions about a pro football team and a new stadium is wonderful. It only benefits what we're trying to do," Kunzer-Murphy said. "Will it happen? I'm a dreamer, like a lot of people here in Las Vegas. I think great things can happen with a lot of individuals working together."

Said Sanchez: "You know the Sands Corp. has done some incredible things before. They're very savvy business people. I'm sure they wouldn't be entertaining this if it's not something they're serious about."

The Review-Journal is owned by a limited liability company controlled by the Adelson family, majority owners of Las Vegas Sands.

— Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33