Editorial: Access concerns remain

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000 | 2:42 a.m.

Now that the UNLV Rebels basketball season is under way, we urge officials at the university's Thomas & Mack Center to concentrate more on arena seating and parking access for disabled fans.

There have been some improvements since 12-year-old wheelchair user Stephen Quinn of Las Vegas encountered problems at a Rebels game in February. His mother, Vicki Quinn, and family friend Jeff Guinn, son of Gov. Kenny Guinn, led an effort to make the arena more accessible. But while arena officials have cooperated to a certain extent, there have also been lapses of common sense, and they have shown little urgency in responding to some access concerns.

Why, for instance, has it taken so long for the arena to secure permanent handicapped parking signs for the 58 designated spaces adjacent to the entrance? Before the Oct. 23 National Basketball Association exhibition game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, arena officials showed poor judgment by allowing the Lakers to set up fan-related exhibits over many of those parking spaces.

Stephen attended the Lakers game, securing one of 15 new floor spaces behind the baskets for disabled fans. But game personnel and others constantly walked or stood in front of him, blocking his view.

It was a good first step to give floor access to wheelchair users who attend basketball games, but more thought has to be given to situating those fans where they can see the action without an obstructed view. Whether it requires private donations or going to the 2001 Nevada Legislature to rectify this situation, we suggest arena officials get busy.