UNLV on Friday unveiled the Strip View Pavilion, part of a $72.5M upgrade to Thomas & Mack Center that offers a view of the valley's skyline "upon entrance into the 9,200-square foot room, with all the modern enhancements that would be expected," according to Mark Anderson of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. The Strip View Pavilion is a room that "can be expanded or condensed and houses more than 40 inside and outside speakers, a 9-by-16-foot video screen that can raised or lowered, 16 TVs and a 2,500-square foot patio." The pavilion, which has its "own escalator, which will ease congestion into the main arena," will be a "central part of the various events" the arena hosts. That includes the National Finals Rodeo, which is "branding the space 'The Shoe' during its 10-day run in December." Fans will be able to "buy souvenirs, watch the televised pre-event show and check out" the NFR HOF. Other regular events, such as the annual NBA Summer League, "could use the area in similar ways as a fan fest." It could be "more of a VIP section for other events, which is what could happen for UNLV basketball games" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/17).
