Reno arena plans reworked

Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) has unveiled revised plans for a $1bn (£777.2m/€921.5m) investment project that will include a new multi-purpose arena with a capacity of more than 10,000.

First unveiled in September, the update provided yesterday (Thursday) reveal a new on-property location, a satellite ice rink, a dedicated parking garage, a fan zone, an aqua golf facility, and what developers claim are “several innovative internal design elements”, all integrated with the existing GSR infrastructure.

GSR already features a 100,000-square-foot casino, nearly 2,000 hotel rooms and suites, and other entertainment offerings, with the project marking the largest private capital investment in the history of Reno, Nevada.

The new arena intends to become a premier destination for concerts, special events, basketball games and other sports events in Northern Nevada. The state-of-the-art facility will feature luxury suites, premium hospitality clubs, and advanced technological integrations to elevate the fan experience.

As part of a strategic partnership with the University of Nevada, the arena is poised to become the future home of Nevada Men’s basketball, which currently calls Lawlor Events Center home.

The arena was previously earmarked for the southwest edge of the property, but Nevada Sportsnet notes it has now been moved to the northwest edge after soil samples were taken in recent months. A ground breaking date for the project has yet to be established, but with an autumn 2026 opening having previously been set, Nevada Sportsnet states recent developments mean the project has been given fresh impetus.

GSR is owned and operated by The Meruelo Group and in April, Alex Meruelo sold his NHL team, the Arizona Coyotes, in a deal that included the option of securing an expansion franchise in Phoenix. However, he gave up the rights to that team earlier this month when the land auction for a potential arena site was cancelled.

Commenting on the revised plans in Reno, Shannon Keel, general manager of Grand Sierra Resort, said in a statement: “We are making tremendous progress on the design of the arena and amenities and continue to work closely with Gensler and the University of Nevada on all aspects of the arena. We couldn’t be more excited to positively impact our region’s sports and entertainment landscape.”

Andy Cohen, global co-chair of Gensler, added: “This world-class sports and entertainment arena will create unmatched value for Reno, fostering community through engaging experiences for a wide range of visitors.

“By seamlessly integrating into the existing casino and resort complex, the new arena will activate a truly 24/7 entertainment lifestyle, enhancing the lasting legacy of a vibrant city. We are thrilled to partner with Grand Sierra Resort and the Meruelo Group to bring this vision to life.”