LAS VEGAS — Allegiant Stadium is preparing for its next major transformation. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority unanimously approved the use of up to $75 million from the Waterfall Residual Fund on Wednesday toward a proposed $158 million renovation project that would dramatically overhaul the North Entry of the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The project is designed to improve pedestrian access, traffic flow, rideshare operations and the overall fan experience at one of Allegiant Stadium’s busiest entry points.
Preliminary design work is already underway. With construction expected to begin during the third quarter of 2027 and be completed by the end of 2028 — putting the upgrades in place before Las Vegas hosts the Super Bowl in 2029. Raiders owner Mark Davis welcomed the Stadium Authority’s approval.
“We are grateful to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority for its partnership and collaboration as we continue working together to ensure Allegiant Stadium remains a world-class destination for Las Vegas and the Raider Nation for years to come,” Davis said.
$75 Million Approved Without a New Tax
The Stadium Authority’s contribution will not require a new tax or an additional allocation from general public funds. Instead, up to $75 million will come from the Waterfall Residual Fund. Which was created as part of the stadium financing structure under Nevada Senate Bill 1.
Those funds can be used for early retirement of stadium debt, capital improvements to Allegiant Stadium or infrastructure required on or around the property. The Raiders will cover the remainder of the approximately $158 million project outside of the Waterfall Residual Fund.
Raiders president Sandra Douglass Morgan said the investment is about ensuring Allegiant Stadium continues to deliver a premier experience as Las Vegas competes with other cities for the world’s biggest events.
“Today’s vote represents another important investment in the future of Allegiant Stadium and our continued commitment to ensuring it remains one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the world,” Morgan said.
“From the beginning, the Raiders have been focused on delivering an exceptional experience for everyone who visits Allegiant Stadium, and that begins before fans walk through the gates.”
North Entry Getting a Major Overhaul
Anyone who has attended a major event at Allegiant Stadium knows how heavily traveled the North Entry can become. A significant number of visitors walk to the stadium from the Las Vegas Strip by crossing the Hacienda Bridge. With tens of thousands of people arriving or departing within relatively short windows, the area can become one of the biggest congestion points surrounding the stadium.
The proposed redesign seeks to change that. Led by architecture firm Grimshaw, the project calls for a new raised pedestrian deck stretching from the West Hacienda Avenue overpass to the stadium’s northern gate.
The elevated walkway would create a more direct connection between the Strip resort corridor. Allegiant Stadium while allowing pedestrians to move more efficiently before and after events.
Transportation improvements would be built underneath the pedestrian deck, including a dedicated pick-up and drop-off area designed to improve vehicle circulation and rideshare operations.
The plans also anticipate a future station connecting Allegiant Stadium with The Boring Company’s tunnel network. Potentially giving fans another transportation option for reaching the venue.
New Plaza Could Become an Entertainment Destination of Its Own
The renovation isn’t solely about moving people in and out of the stadium. Plans also call for a redesigned entry plaza featuring a large canopy. That would provide shade for fans waiting outside Allegiant Stadium an especially significant addition given Las Vegas’ extreme summer temperatures.
The plaza could also function as an entertainment space. The canopy area is expected to be capable of hosting smaller concerts, fan activations and community programming. Potentially turning the North Entry into an event destination before fans ever walk through the stadium gates. Morgan said the improvements are intended to make the entire process of attending an event easier.
“These improvements will enhance access to and from the stadium, improve traffic flow and rideshare operations, and ultimately create a better overall experience for our fans and the community,” Morgan said.
Allegiant Stadium Has Become an Economic Engine for Las Vegas
Since opening in 2020, Allegiant Stadium has developed into far more than simply the Raiders’ home field. Over six years of operation, the venue has hosted 151 major ticketed events. Welcomed more than 7 million attendees and generated an estimated $10.6 billion in economic activity.
Its resume already includes Super Bowl LVIII, WrestleMania, international soccer, championship boxing and some of the world’s largest concert tours. The stadium has also served a broader community role. Including operating as an Election Day voting location in 2024 and hosting U.S. naturalization ceremonies and Nevada high school football state championship games.
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill believes maintaining the stadium’s position among America’s premier venues is particularly important as other cities increasingly invest in new stadium projects of their own.
“Allegiant Stadium is a critical community asset, and it is driving tourism right now, at this critical time for our industry,” Hill said. “We all know that tourism drives the economy, not only of Las Vegas, but of all Nevada.”
Hill also pointed toward growing competition from other markets. “Many cities are copying our model and building new stadiums, bringing new competition,” Hill said. “Keeping Allegiant Stadium the No. 1 stadium in the country is a priority for all of us.”
Las Vegas Preparing for Its Next Super Bowl
The timeline is significant. Construction is currently projected to begin in the third quarter of 2027, with completion targeted for the end of 2028. That would have the redesigned North Entry fully operational before the Super Bowl returns to Las Vegas in 2029.
Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024. Demonstrated just how quickly Las Vegas has become one of the NFL’s premier showcase markets. The city has also increasingly positioned itself as a destination for major sporting events well beyond Raiders football.
The proposed renovation represents an effort to make sure the stadium’s infrastructure evolves alongside that success. For the Raiders, the $158 million project is also another sign that Allegiant Stadium’s development didn’t end when its doors opened in 2020.
The next phase is about improving how fans reach the building. How quickly they can leave it and what they experience before they ever scan a ticket. With another Super Bowl coming to Las Vegas in 2029. The Raiders and Stadium Authority now have a deadline for getting it done.
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