LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV Athletics has announced a $5 million, multi-year commitment from Boyd Gaming Corporation – the largest corporate commitment in the history of UNLV Athletics -- that will advance excellence across the department, while also commemorating a shared legacy of leadership.
Founded in downtown Las Vegas in 1975, Boyd Gaming is one of the largest and most established hospitality companies in the Las Vegas Valley. The company currently owns and operates 12 properties across southern Nevada, and has been the title sponsor of Sam Boyd Stadium since the 1980s.
Boyd Gaming's investment will support a suite of key initiatives across the department, highlighted by a new center-hung videoboard in the Thomas & Mack Center. The state-of-the-art scoreboard, scheduled to be installed prior to the 2018-19 Runnin' Rebel basketball season, will bear the Boyd Gaming name that has been synonymous with excellence at UNLV for decades.
"We are proud to build upon our partnership with UNLV in such a profound way," said Boyd Gaming Executive Chairman Bill Boyd. "This investment will carry Boyd Gaming's legacy with UNLV Athletics forward to inspire the next generation of leaders across our great city and state. We believe in the vision of the leadership at UNLV Athletics, and are proud to know that Boyd Gaming will be closely tied to the Rebels' emergence among the nation's elite."
Additional funding from Boyd Gaming will help establish a Student-Athlete Excellence Center at UNLV. The center will be part of a renovation of the Lied Athletic Complex and will deliver a holistic range of services emphasizing leadership, health and wellness, and outreach. Boyd Gaming will also support a renovation of Eller Media Stadium for UNLV Softball.
Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, added: "We are a company that believes in giving back to our community, and our long-term partnership with UNLV has been at the forefront of that commitment. Through this gift to UNLV Athletics, Boyd Gaming is proud to demonstrate its support to current and future generations of student-athletes in their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence."
"We are thankful for this transformational commitment," said UNLV Director of Athletics
Desiree Reed-Francois. "This is a tremendous way to celebrate the respect and admiration that we have for the Boyds and Boyd Gaming. The impact will be felt throughout our student-athlete community allowing us to deliver programs and services essential to our mission. Our fans are so important to us, we listened and are enthused to provide this new scoreboard to enhance the gameday experience at the Thomas & Mack Center.
"The Student-Athlete Excellence Center will be a differentiator for UNLV Athletics. It will allow us to support our entire student-athlete population, while graduating leaders prepared for lifelong success. Support for softball will allow Coach Fox to compete at the highest level of the sport. We appreciate the teamwork and support on this project from Chancellor Thom Reilly, President Marta Meana, our colleagues on campus and our senior associate athletics director
John Gladchuk."
