The 2024 Super Bowl, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, was one of the highest revenue-generating events in NFL history. It attracted millions of viewers and thousands of fans to this first-time host city – and the stadium continues to make headlines as a leading sports venue across the nation. Four years since its opening, Allegiant Stadium’s lasting impact has been made evident in the local community, economy, and workforce – both during construction and enduring today. 

Immediate Action for Long-Term Impact

The construction of Allegiant Stadium was a massive undertaking, involving more than 12,000 workers representing over 200 contractors and trade partners. With a substantial investment of $1.9 billion, the project created significant opportunities for local businesses and workforce. Mortenson | McCarthy, the design-builder, as well as the Las Vegas Raiders and other partners, advanced local businesses and empowered the workforce throughout construction – a proven approach that ensured the project generated lasting positive impacts for the community, even after its completion.  

Paving The Way Through Legislation 

At the outset of the project, the state of Nevada didn’t have legislation defined around public funding contributions for the stadium, though these contributions were critical to the project’s feasibility. Our team, along with other key stakeholders, partnered with the Raiders and the Vegas community to craft community benefit language for the proposed senate bill. This language established the framework for how the community would benefit from the design and construction of Allegiant Stadium. Not only was the funding through senate bill SB1 key for the stadium budget needs, but it directly impacted our ability to invest in and create opportunities for the local community through apprenticeships, jobs, and business development resources – allowing the Raiders to fulfill their promise to the community and support long-term growth for Las Vegas businesses. 

Elevating Local Businesses 

To engage with and elevate the Las Vegas business community, Mortenson assisted local partners in enhancing their business plans, financial management, marketing, and bidding strategies, all while they successfully delivered their project scopes on the stadium. One way they achieved this was by collaborating with the Clark County Small Business Opportunity Program, which offered technical assistance, mentorship, and training to the local businesses. To complete these efforts, the project team also hosted several workshops, seminars, and networking events to inform local businesses about the project requirements, processes, and opportunities.

Investing in Workforce Development 

Another goal of the Allegiant Stadium project was to create and sustain jobs for the local workforce. Mortenson | McCarthy focused on apprenticeship programs to develop workers’ skills, knowledge, and credentials in various trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and ironwork. According to the Allegiant Stadium Community Impact Report, there were 1,076 apprentices who dedicated 858,093 hours to the project. Intentional efforts to assemble a diverse workforce reflective of the community resulted in 63% of total hours being worked by minorities and women, far exceeding the initial goal of 38%. These outcomes are a testament to Las Vegas’ focus and commitment to providing opportunities for all members of the community. 

Data-Driven Decisions for Evolving Market Demand 

From the beginning, the Raiders’ vision for the stadium was to provide a valuable community resource — a versatile venue capable of hosting various events and groups, 365 days a year – meeting the needs of the Raiders while accommodating large-scale conventions, concerts and more.  

The team quickly surpassed their initial sales expectations. With this additional revenue, the Raiders were able to consider new ways to invest in Allegiant Stadium to serve their new hometown and loyal fans through unique, unforgettable experiences.  

Equipped with sports-specific preconstruction expertise, the Raider’s partnership with Mortenson | McCarthy enabled the franchise to make informed decisions early in design that allowed for ultimate flexibility. This upfront planning was critical in propelling the project forward at an efficient pace, but with enough flexibility to adapt to evolving needs.  

The partnership with Mortenson | McCarthy and other integral project partners provided cost agility, aligned with the build schedule. This partnership enabled the Raiders to invest over $200M more into fan experience, community enhancements, and revenue generating opportunities within the stadium throughout the process.

A lasting impact that will carry on 

Allegiant Stadium opened its doors in July 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and hosted its first NFL game in September 2020, as well as college football games, concerts, and conventions. With limited or no spectators in attendance during this time, the Raiders still prioritized opportunities for local businesses. Post-pandemic, the stadium continued to have a positive impact on the local community as the Raiders set their sights on what is next for their organization and their new home, the great City of Las Vegas.  

Local businesses continue to have the opportunity to foster industry workforce growth as a direct outcome of the support and participation during Allegiant Stadium’s build. The intent of the workforce program was to set the firms up for long-term business success, cultivating the skills, resources and relationships needed to do so.