Lawlor Events Center

Lawlor Events Center

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Address	1500 North Virginia Street
Location	Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Coordinates	39°32′42.25″N 119°49′5.77″W
Owner	University of Nevada, Reno
Operator	University of Nevada, Reno
Capacity	12,000
Surface	Multi–surface
Construction
Broke ground	October 1981[1]
Opened	November 4, 1983; 41 years ago (1983-11-04)[1]
Construction cost	$26 million ($79.5 million in 2023 dollars[2])
Architect	Casazza, Peetz & Associates[3]
Structural engineer	Walter P. Moore and Associates, Inc.[4]
General contractor	The Law Company, Inc.[5]
Tenants
Nevada Wolf Pack (NCAA) (1983–present)

Lawlor Events Center is northern Nevada's largest multi-purpose arena. It is located in Reno, Nevada at the intersection of North Virginia Street and 15th Street on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. It is named after former athletic director, baseball, basketball and football coach Jake Lawlor.

It was built in 1983 and has a capacity of 12,000 including 11,536 multi-purpose seats. Lawlor is home to the Nevada Wolf Pack basketball teams, and also hosts boxing, concerts, conferences, PBR events, rodeos, WWE and other entertainment events. It is also the host for Washoe County School District high school graduations and winter commencement ceremonies for the university.

History

Lawlor Events Center hosted the 1986 Big Sky Conference, 1996–2000 Big West Conference and 2005–2006 and 2009–2010 Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournaments.

On Saturday, February 4, 1984 Duran Duran performed at Lawlor as part of their Sing Blue Silver world tour.

On Thursday, February 16, 1984 Genesis performed at Lawlor as part of their Mama Tour.

The music video for Eddie Money's 1986 single "Take Me Home Tonight" was filmed at the arena.

Bon Jovi played a sold-out show on January 23, 1987, during their Slippery When Wet Tour.

On April 21, 1990, Santana performed here as part of their Spirits Dancing in the Flesh Tour.

Tina Turner held her Twenty Four Seven Tour here on December 2, 2000.

On August 1, 2003, rock band Fleetwood Mac performed at Lawlor, as part of their Say You Will Tour.

On September 27, 2023, the Grand Sierra Resort, a casino resort in the city, announced a 10-year, $1 billion-plus expansion project. The project will include a new arena with a capacity of at least 10,000. Upon completion, currently planned for 2026, Nevada men's basketball will move to the new arena, with women's basketball remaining at Lawlor.^[6]

See also

• List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas

References

1. "History and Hall of Fame". University of Nevada, Reno. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
2. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
3. Murray, Chris (February 7, 2014). "After Moving Into the "Palace" of Lawlor Events Center, Wolf Pack Has Created Countless Memories". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
4. Ghodsi, Fereidoon (1985). "A Gas-Metal Arc Welded Ring Meets the Specs". Welding Design & Fabrication. 58 (7–12). Industrial Publication: 153.
5. "Lawlor Events Center / Multi-Purpose Pavilion". The Law Company, Inc. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
6. "Historic $1 Billion Private Capital Investment Announced for the Grand Sierra Resort" (Press release). Nevada Wolf Pack. September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.

External links

• Lawlor Events Center
• Lawlor Events Center – Home of Wolf Pack Basketball
• A Guide to the Lawlor Events Center Records, AC 0634. University Archives, University Libraries; University of Nevada, Reno.