Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis in front of Allegiant Stadium
The Las Vegas Raiders moved into a nearly $2 billion stadium six years ago after receiving one of the largest public stadium subsidies in American sports history. Apparently six years is now old enough to start talking about renovations.
The Raiders are seeking $75 million in public money toward a proposed $158 million overhaul of Allegiant Stadium’s north entrance. The team would cover the remaining $83 million, with the project targeted for completion before Las Vegas hosts the Super Bowl again in 2029.
Allegiant Stadium Is Already Getting A $158 Million Upgrade
To be fair, the Raiders are not asking somebody to replace all the seats because the cupholders suddenly feel dated.
The proposed North Plaza Project would address what team president Sandra Douglass Morgan called one of the stadium’s biggest guest-experience “pressure points.” Thousands of fans walk from the Las Vegas Strip across the Hacienda Avenue bridge, and the renovation would create a more direct elevated path into the stadium while adding pedestrian and event decks, a new plaza and transportation improvements.
The Associated Press reports construction would begin after the Raiders’ season and is expected to finish in late 2028, ideally before Super Bowl LXIII arrives.
Still, there is something objectively funny about discussing a nine-figure renovation for a stadium whose warranty paperwork probably still feels fresh.
Allegiant Stadium was completed in July 2020 for approximately $1.97 billion. Southern Nevada supplied $750 million toward construction, while the Raiders and other private sources covered the remainder.
That public contribution was funded through a hotel-room tax approved as part of the stadium deal. The Stadium Authority says those room-tax revenues are also designed to support debt repayment, reserves, operations and future capital improvements.
Which brings us to the extra $75 million.
The Public Already Put $750 Million Into The Building
The Raiders are not proposing a brand-new tax or asking Nevada lawmakers to pull $75 million directly out of the general fund.
Instead, they want to use money sitting in what is called the Waterfall Residual Fund, essentially surplus revenue generated by the existing hotel-room tax tied to Allegiant Stadium. LVSportsBiz reported Tuesday that the fund is projected to have about $75 million available by June 30, 2027.
That distinction matters.
It is still public money. It is just public money specifically generated through the stadium funding mechanism rather than Mark Davis walking into Carson City carrying a giant novelty check request.
The Las Vegas Stadium Authority discussed the proposal Thursday but took no action. The vote could instead come Sept. 2. If approved, the Raiders would contribute more than half of the project’s cost themselves.
The timing is nevertheless incredible.
Allegiant has already hosted the 2024 Super Bowl, will host this season’s college football national championship and has a Final Four coming in 2028. The NFL also announced in March that the Super Bowl will return in 2029.
This is not exactly a crumbling multipurpose concrete bowl from 1973, and before it even celebrates its 10th birthday, the building that already received $750 million in public funding could get another $75 million from the same basic pot of tax money.