Sam Boyd Stadium

Address:7000 E. Russell Road
Las Vegas, Nevada

For sports fans visiting "Sin City," Sam Boyd Stadium is a must stop spot. In fact, not checking out Sam Boyd Stadium would be a sin in itself. Sam Boyd Stadium is home to the UNLV Rebels Football team, so go enjoy watching the scarlet and gray Rebels hit the gridiron, and sing along with the crowd as they chant their fight song: "Win with the Rebels".

Sam Boyd Stadium successfully combines the excitement of a college football stadium and the versatility of an entertainment arena. The stadium is host to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, the Monster Truck Jam World Finals, the AMA Supercross Series Finals, and the Vegoose music festival.

Originally named Las Vegas Stadium, when it was built in 1971, the facility was re-named the Las Vegas Silver Bowl in 1978. In 1984 the stadium was renamed, yet again, this time as the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl in honor of the prominent Las Vegas hotel owner and gaming pioneer Sam Boyd. Its name was officially shortened to Sam Boyd Stadium in April 1994.

SBS consists of an uncovered, horseshoe-shaped, single-decked bowl and can hold up to 40,000 fans. Make sure to visit the popular official UNLV Football tailgate area, "Rebel Experience," which is located right outside the stadium.

One of the smartest moves that was made by the stadium's owners was the replacement of the so-called "Magic Carpet" retractable artificial turf that had been in place since 1985. Originally fitted with traditional AstroTurf, Sam Boyd was the first stadium in the world to install a Monsanto Corp. outdoor retractable turf, which helped give the facility its multi-purpose capability. The surface simply rolls up into cylinders in under an hour. Natural grass replaced the artificial turf from 1999-2002, before a synthetic surface, made by TurfTech, was installed in time for the 2003 season.

The stadium has hosted some of the greatest talents in sports and show business. Future NFL quarterbacks Randall Cunningham, Jim McMahon, Drew Bledsoe, Andre Ware and Akili Smith are among those who have played at Sam Boyd Stadium. Stars of other sports, including soccer legend Pele and motor sports stars, have also performed here. Additionally, the stadium has hosted world-class concerts by such musical acts as the Dave Matthews Band, The Eagles, U2, Paul McCartney, Wayne Newton, The George Strait Festival, and once-annual summer appearances by The Grateful Dead. A shrine to football played on all levels, the stadium is currently site of the Las Vegas Bowl each December, and has additionally served as home to three Western Athletic Conference championship games from 1996-98.

UNLV's Sam Boyd Stadium, is located in Henderson, Nevada, approximately seven miles from the UNLV campus and the famous Las Vegas Strip. The stadium is easily accessible, as it is just off routes I-15 and I-95. Plenty of parking is available around Sam Boyd, and prices vary.