Christenson steps down as T&M director

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

1980: Moved to Las Vegas; named assistant wrestling coach and event coordinator for UNLV athletics.

1983: Named assistant director for the Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium; T&M opens; UNLV takes ownership of Sam Boyd.

1992: Promoted to director of T&M and Sam Boyd.

1993: Oversaw first $6 million renovation of T&M.

1997: Developed UNLV's sports marketing department.

1998: Secured funding for renovation of T&M, Sam Boyd; oversaw design and construction of renovation.

1999: Secured $5 million naming rights from Cox Communications for a new 3,500-seat venue.

2000: Completed renovation of T&M and Sam Boyd and construction of Cox Pavilion.

2001: Announces resignation, effective Aug. 12.

The Thomas & Mack renovations are complete, Sam Boyd Stadium has been completely remodeled and the Cox Pavilion is up and running.

And so the time has come for Pat Christenson to seek out new challenges.

On Monday, Christenson, director of UNLV's three major athletic facilities, announced he will resign on Aug. 12 after 21 years at the school. He will take over as president of Las Vegas Events, the special events division of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

"I've been at UNLV for 21 years, directing the venues for 10 years, and it seemed like I'd done as much as I can," Christenson, 46, said. "My goal was to get those buildings fully modernized, and I feel like I've done that."

During his two decades at the school, Christenson has held a variety of positions, from assistant wrestling coach to athletic event coordinator. But it is his time as director of the T&M, Sam Boyd and the recently completed Cox Pavilion for which Christenson will be remembered.

"Pat Christenson's leadership of the Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium has been outstanding," UNLV president Carol Harter said in a press release. "He has turned our arenas into some of the best -- and busiest -- in the country."

Christenson managed to do that without looking to the public for financial support, opting instead to raise money by bringing non-UNLV events to the venues such as the National Finals Rodeo, boxing matches and concerts.

In addition to UNLV sports, the T&M and Sam Boyd Stadium housed many top events during Pat Christenson's tenure at the school. Here are a few of the bigger acts:

"The relationship between the community and the venues is probably the best there is in the country," he said. "What's most remarkable to me is after 18 years with these venues, they're brand new and that was done without taxpayers money."

In fact, despite making more than $20 million worth of improvements to the facilities, Christenson's department provided the university's athletic department with a surplus each year.

Added Tony Flores, UNLV's vice president for finance, "Pat Christenson is recognized nationally as an outstanding arena director.

"Pat's greatest accomplishment has been the dramatic conversion of our facilities to the outstanding intercollegiate sports and entertainment complex that now plays host to not only UNLV Rebel athletic events, but also to some of the most popular shows in the country," Flores added in the release.

Christenson said the Grateful Dead's first appearance at Sam Boyd, in the spring of 1991, proved a turning point in Las Vegas' growth as a stop along major concert routes.

"Bringing the Grateful Dead to town really changed the music scene here," he said. "We hadn't gotten any big stadium touring acts before that. Then we did U2, Paul McCartney and the Eagles. That was the start of where the touring industry started looking at Las Vegas."

Revenue generated from those types of events, along with assistance from a gaming tax which originally helped build the Thomas & Mack, went toward the recent renovations of both the T&M and Sam Boyd. Additionally, the university received a $5 million donation from Cox Communications to build the brand new Cox Pavilion -- a facility which now houses the school's women's basketball and women's volleyball programs.

"It's nice to have a venue for the women's teams that brings all of what those venues are about to a final conclusion," said Christenson, a former NCAA wrestling champion at the University of Wisconsin.

In his new position, Christenson will continue to work to bring top entertainment acts and sporting events to Southern Nevada.

"It's a great opportunity, and the timing was great," Christenson said. "I'll miss (UNLV). Mostly, I'll miss our staff. They've got me to where I am right now."