Thomas & Mack Center improves wheelchair seating

Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 | 8:57 a.m.

A Las Vegas resident who has fought for better handicapped accessibility at the Thomas & Mack Center because of difficulties encountered by her disabled son applauded a new seating arrangement at the arena but said more should be done.

Thomas & Mack Director Daren Libonati announced Friday that the arena on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus will open a new elevated wheelchair area at the bottom of section 123 in time for the UNLV Rebels men's basketball game against Northern Arizona University on Dec. 18.

The announcement came three years after arena officials first conceded that seating and other accommodations for disabled individuals were inadequate.

Changes have come gradually. One change involved placing about 60 handicapped parking spaces close to the arena after it was pointed out that VIP parking was closer than the handicapped parking.

Thanks largely to the efforts of Las Vegas resident Vicki Quinn, the arena in 2000 added 15 handicapped seating spaces, each with a companion seat, on the floor behind the baskets. One of those spaces has been used by her 15-year-old son Stephen, who suffers from a rare birth defect that restricts joint movement and his ability to walk long distances.

But even that solution hasn't quite worked because Stephen Quinn and other wheelchair-bound fans have sometimes found their vision blocked by other fans in front of them.

Vicki Quinn, who said she believes her complaints prompted Thomas & Mack officials to act, was told that the new elevated area will accommodate four wheelchairs.

"The fact they have done this is tremendous, and I look forward to seeing it used by disabled fans," she said. "I hope they put the raised platforms in other areas of the arena as well."

Libonati said that some of the arena improvements for handicapped accessibility were prompted by "customer feedback."

"The needs of our guests change every day so we are always looking at ways to improve the facility," he said in a prepared statement. "There is a lot of foot traffic around the court at basketball events. This section will provide an unobstructed view for wheelchair users."

Libonati said that other projects that have been recently completed or are under way for disabled individuals include extended ramp alerts, more signs at the front entrance, increased curb cutouts, and a smoother surface at the main entrance where wheelchair users get dropped off.

"They can't stop with that," Vicki Quinn said. "They're not done."

She said she would like to see even more seats for disabled fans at the 18,500-seat arena.

It was to be one of the topics she said she expected to address this afternoon when she and her son were to appear at the Sawyer State Office Building before an interim state legislative committee that is considering issues of concern to disabled individuals.

Vicki Quinn said she intends to discuss accessibility issues involving both the arena and UNLV's Sam Boyd Stadium.