History
Opened in 1971 east of Las Vegas, the stadium went through several names before being named for casino executive Sam Boyd in 1994. UNLV played there for nearly five decades, and it hosted the Las Vegas Bowl, the USA Sevens rugby tournament and short-lived CFL, XFL and UFL teams.
UNLV's final home game was in November 2019, and the 2020 Mountain West title game was the last event. Since then the stadium has mostly sat empty apart from COVID testing and firefighter training; in late 2024 Nevada regents approved a $5 million sale to Clark County.
Why it matters: Las Vegas's main outdoor stadium for college and pro football for nearly 50 years.
Timeline
- October 23, 1971Opening[1]
The stadium opened as Las Vegas Stadium.
- November 23, 2019UNLV's last home game[1]
UNLV beat San Jose State 38-35 in its final game there before moving to Allegiant Stadium.
- December 19, 2020Final scheduled event[1]
The 2020 Mountain West Championship Game was the last event listed by Wikipedia.
- December 2024Sale approved[2]
Nevada regents approved selling the stadium to Clark County for $5 million.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, unused |
|---|---|
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
We have not verified what occupies the site today. Know? Tell us, with a source.
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| UNLV Rebels | NCAA · 1971–2019 |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas Posse | CFL · 1994 · tenant |
| Las Vegas Outlaws | XFL · 2001 · tenant |
| Las Vegas Locomotives | UFL · 2009–2012 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Las Vegas Stadium (1971–1978); Las Vegas Silver Bowl (1978–1984); Sam Boyd Silver Bowl (1984–1994) |
|---|---|
| Location | 7000 East Russell Road, Whitney (Las Vegas area), Nevada[1,3] |
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Football, Soccer, Other sports |
| Level | NCAA, CFL, XFL, UFL |
| Opened | October 23, 1971[1,3] |
| Last used for sports | December 19, 2020[1,2] |
| Physical status | Standing, unused |
| Original capacity | 15,000[1,2] |
| Final capacity | 36,800[1,2] |
| Capacity notes | Wikipedia: 15,000 at opening, 36,800 final (expandable to 40,000); Casino.org also gives 36,800 seats. |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket (renovations)[1] |
| Construction cost | $3.5 million[1] |
| Owner / operator | UNLV / Las Vegas Stadium Authority; sale to Clark County approved 2024[2] |
| Closure | UNLV moved its home games to the new Allegiant Stadium and agreed to close Sam Boyd permanently. |
Documented details
Sources
- Sam Boyd Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, construction cost, coordinates, opened, teams
- $5M Sale of Abandoned Las Vegas Stadium Approved, Casino.org. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, owner
- Sam Boyd Stadium (campus map), University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, opened
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- UNLV's map page still describes the stadium in the present tense as an active venue; Wikipedia and Casino.org describe it as closed.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.