News - May 8, 2025 - by Ray Hagar

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While the University of Nevada's men's basketball team will play at the new GSR arena beginning in 2027, the women's team will stay on campus at Lawlor Events Center, the home of Pack basketball for the past 41 years.

As it has been reported, the Reno Redevelopment Agency Board approved a plan for tax-increment financing to add more than $60 million to the GSR arena project. That got the ball rolling. Construction of the $435 million arena is set to start in June and will be finished in time for the 2027-28 basketball season.

Although the university is not paying a dime for the construction of the arena, it will have to pay a fee each time the men's team plays there.

In a recent interview on Nevada Newsmakers, UNR President Brian Sandoval did not say how much that per-game fee would be.

However, it is not economically feasible for the women's team to play regular-season games at GSR, Sandoval told host Sam Shad.

"The stark reality of it is they average 600, 700 fans per game, and it just isn't economic for them to play (at GSR), because we're gonna have to pay to play in that arena," Sandoval said.

The average crowd size for tickets-scanned at Pack women's basketball games was 631 last season, according to Kerri Garcia, the school's executive director of marketing and communications.

However, the team attracted a crowd of almost 10,700 for its annual "When I Grow Up" game last season, which brings girls from the Washoe County School District to Lawlor to promote women's athletics and the Nevada campus.

The women's team will probably not be locked out of the new area, Sandoval added. He envisioned women's basketball tournaments there.

"You know, for women, there still will be an opportunity to (play at GSR). "They call them match-team tournaments or something like that," he said. "But perhaps they can play in the new arena if they want to, for those types of games. But for the regular season games, their averages ... it would just be too much of a revenue drain."

Sandoval began his statement, saying:

"Frankly, in conversations with Amanda Levens, the coach of the (women's) basketball team, she prefers to play in Lawlor."

Sandoval has been a supporter of women's athletics since becoming president. The former two-term Republican governor started the Alpha Fund to provide team meals and other nutrition services to the women's teams.

He's also adjusted the salaries of women's teams head coaches to reach the median of the Mountain West Conference. He has overseen the renovations of facilities of many of the womens' teams including basketball, swimming, softball, tennis and track & field.

The future of Lawlor Events Center, however, is not overly optimistic, Sandoval mentioned.

"Lawlor Events Center was built when I was a student at the university in 1984, and in its heyday it was great," Sandoval said. "Pavarotti, the Eagles, you name it. They used to go there.

"There hasn't been a show in Lawlor, not since I've been president, and we've offered it up," he added. "Nobody wants to use it because it's dated. It doesn't have the audio, it doesn't have the video, it doesn't have the amenities.

"I would love to have more events in there because that would raise money for the university," Sandoval continued. "You know, I've been told a minimum $50 million to $100 million to update.

"I have spoken with a couple of the city council people who are going to be on the redevelopment board, and they've told us, "You know, maybe somebody would be willing to invest that money.'

"The other important point is the university doesn't pay property tax, so there wouldn't be a benefit of a massive investment even if it were to exist, which it does not," he said, referring to possible tax incentives.

University officials expect revenue from men's basketball will increase with the move to the GSR arena. The men's basketball team is currently the most profitable program in the Wolf Pack athletic department.

"If you talk to Stephanie Rempe, our athletic director, they've done an economic analysis and given the quality of that arena and the increase in the number of premium seats, there's an opportunity to earn $4 million to $5 million more of revenue for the athletic department versus what we have today, where we essentially have plateaued," Sandoval said.

Shuttle busses will be provided for students to attend game and be returned to campus, Sandoval said. The Nevada Sports Network figures that will be about an average of 1,000 students per game.

Sandoval also sees opportunities for other resort properties in Reno, with the Pack moving the the GSR arena.

"Actually we see a business opportunity -- and this has happened in the past -- where businesses can host or provide transportation and have a (game) ticket, eat dinner here and then afterwards, when you come back have a benefit as well. So I think people should see the opportunity in all of this and the number of people that it will bring the town."

Why has Sandoval inserted himself into the push to get the GSR arena built?

He said: "I have a fiduciary duty to do what's in the best interest of this campus. It will enhance our athletic department. It will enhance the fan experience. It will have a positive impact because I'm confident that our team will be successful in terms of recruiting new students and (getting) attention to our university. It is a win-win all the way through. "

The Wolf Pack basketball team may end up sharing the new arena with a hockey team. GSR owner Alex Muruelo owns the Tucson Roadrunnners of the American Hockey League. It has been speculated that the Roadrunners would move to Reno when the GSR arena is built.

Already, the new Tahoe Blue Events Center at Stateline, Nv. has a pro hockey team, the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the East Coast Hockey League. The Nevada women's basketball team also played Colorado in a neutral game at Tahoe Blue in 2024.

The GSR arena will help Reno compete with the expansion of facilities at Lake Tahoe, Sandoval said.

"You're seeing a lot of investment up at Tahoe now and I think that's great," he said. "But that's going to directly compete with Reno. And there's a brand new events center up there that the properties up there are going to benefit from. And similarly I think it's a identical analysis (with the GSR Arena). "

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