UNLV’s athletic department has concerns over revenue deal

Steve Carp

Friday, July 9, 1999 | 11:02 a.m.

Having regained control of its ticketing, marketing and promotional arms, the UNLV athletic department is looking for more blood for its veins.

According to athletic department senior staff members, the revenue the Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium derive through corporate sales, luxury suites, signage and concessions isn't flowing back equitably to athletics.

In addition, the practice of UNLV's teams having to pay to use its own facilities has been questioned by athletic department staff.

"Those are serious concerns to us," athletic director Charles Cavagnaro said. "We're not asking for 100 percent of that money. But we feel we're entitled to our fair share."

According to athletic department figures, the school's teams generate $7.2 million in total revenue for the T&M and the stadium. From that, the Thomas & Mack is only kicking back slightly over $1 million.

In the meantime, the school is forced to pay $25,000 per game to use Sam Boyd Stadium for five home games. Basketball will pay $13,370 a game for 16 home games at the Thomas & Mack and the Lady Rebel basketball team, which is moving virtually all its games to the T&M this year, will pay $4,000 a game.

Thomas & Mack director Pat Christenson refuses to call it "rent." He uses the term "operating expenses" when justifying the costs passed on to the athletic department.

"They're getting the money back," he said, alluding to the share of money the athletic department gets from the generated revenue from the luxury suites, advertising and signage. "To me, I'd like to have athletics have every dime. But my primary goal is to make sure this building (the Thomas & Mack) is run prudently."

Cavagnaro said give him a more equitable split of the revenue and work to reduce the costs on those operating expenses i.e. ushers, ticket takers, concessions personnel, and he won't squawk.

"What we have right now is not equitable," he said. "We don't expect it all. But you give us half of that and we're going to be in great shape budget-wise."

An increase of $3.5 million to the athletic department's budget might mean the difference between dominating the Mountain West Conference or being mediocre. That money could be used to increase recruiting and coaching staff budgets which would give UNLV's coaches a better chance at luring top talent to the school.

"We'd certainly like to have that option," Cavagnaro said.

Apparently, the UNLV administration is prepared to step in and broker a settlement. George Scaduto, assistant vice president for budgets and special projects, will find an independent third party to determine what is equitable.

Once those findings are made, the two sides would abide by the ruling.

"I think that's an excellent idea," Christenson said. "We're not trying to shortchange athletics. But at the same time, we have a building to run here and we've never operated at a deficit and I don't want to see that change."

Cavagnaro also finds that an acceptable solution to the dilemma.

"There should be a number that's fair and agreeable for both athletics and for Thomas & Mack," he said. "We would welcome a third party looking into it."