Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas: Event-Day Planning

Thomas & Mack Center sits on the UNLV campus at the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and University Center Drive. The arena opened in 1983 and hosts a mix of sporting events and live entertainment. The Strip View Pavilion, on the west side of the building, can also host events separately from the main center.

The main venue address is 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154. The box office is on the building’s southwest side, while the main entrance has a traffic circle used for pickup and drop-off.

Crown Motel is about an 8-minute drive from UNLV Shadow Lane Campus; confirm the route to Thomas & Mack Center before you travel, since that campus distance does not establish a venue-specific journey. For a broader look at city transport, how to get around Las Vegas from a downtown base covers getting between destinations.

For directions, use the venue’s street address and check your route for the event you are attending. At the arena, follow event signage and any directions from parking attendants, especially if you are arranging a pickup.

For event dates and times, contact UNLVtickets at 702-739-3267. Public doors generally open one hour before the performance, and the venue encourages guests to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start. Check your ticket for any change to that entry policy.

If your trip starts at the airport, how to get from Harry Reid airport to Crown Motel covers that leg of the journey.

Pack carefully: the clear-bag policy permits one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or one one-gallon clear freezer bag, plus a small clutch or purse no larger than 8 x 11 inches.

Medically necessary items are subject to inspection. Bags that do not meet the size and type rules can be turned away before you reach the entrance.

Guests may be searched, including with a metal-detecting hand wand, and the posted policy does not allow re-entry after leaving the facility. Coolers, video cameras, food and beverages, laser pens and noisemakers are among items that may be inappropriate or prohibited, so check event-specific instructions before arrival.

Accessible seating varies by event and availability. You can request accessible seating through UNLVtickets by phone at 702-739-3267 or online.

The venue has 52 designated accessible parking spaces, and guests needing close access may be dropped off at the entrance. Guest Relations booths on the main concourse near sections 106 and 117 provide assistive listening devices in exchange for identification.

Thomas & Mack Center has four parking lots around the building, and parking prices vary by event. The venue describes its parking area as 30 acres with 4,000 spaces; UNLV Parking & Transportation Services does not coordinate event parking, so use venue event information for parking details.

Event pickup and drop-off points for shuttles, limousines and rideshares can vary, with parking attendants directing drivers. Taxis use the main-entrance traffic circle during events. For non-event pickup and drop-off, UNLV identifies the same circle, with handicap access on both sides.

Overnight parking is prohibited unless it relates to an event and is approved by Center management. Alcohol consumption and tailgating or similar parties are not allowed in the parking lots.

Build your arrival around the event’s scheduled start: doors open an hour beforehand, and the venue recommends arriving at least 30 minutes early. Allow extra time for parking, bag screening and finding your entrance, and keep your ticket handy in case it contains event-specific instructions.

If you plan to use public transit, UNLV’s Parking & Transportation Services directs riders to its interactive transit map to locate stops, routes and arrivals. Before you go, check the official site for the venue’s current event and travel guidance.

The box office is listed as open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time. It is closed on weekends and holidays except on event days, when it opens three hours before the event; hours may change without notice. Confirm the box office schedule before relying on an in-person visit.

What kinds of events take place at Thomas & Mack Center?

The venue hosts basketball games, major concerts, ice shows and the National Finals Rodeo. The Strip View Pavilion on the west side can hold events separately from the main center.

How early should you arrive?

Public doors open one hour before a performance, and the venue encourages arrival at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start. Check your ticket for any event-specific change.

Can you leave and re-enter the venue?

No. The venue’s posted search policy says there is no re-entry after leaving the facility.