UNLV officials on Friday said that they are “moving to get funding approved to bring” the Thomas & Mack Center “up to code,” according to Yesenia Amaro of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. UNLV Senior VP/Finance & Business Gerry Bomotti cited a report which revealed that the facility “needs several renovations" that are estimated at $59.2M. That would include “improvements to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, adding restrooms, replacing seats and the locker room as well as mechanical, plumbing and electrical updates.” Bomotti said that the restrooms improvement is “significant.” UNLV President Neal Smatresk said that certain improvements during a renovation are “required to bring a facility up to code.” Bomotti said that officials have “submitted materials about the planned renovations to Chancellor Dan Klaich.” It is not certain “whether the renovation will be an action item for the Board of Regents before it’s presented” to the Nevada Legislature. Bomotti said that university officials “hope to ask for slot tax revenue to finance the project.” He said that the Nevada System of Higher Education gets about $15M "every year from the tax, and about half goes toward major renovations.” Smatresk said that if the project ultimately is approved by the Legislature, the university “would then seek bids on the work” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/8).
