Five seasons in, do UNLV fans enjoy calling Allegiant Stadium home?

But through it all, the “missing elements” of Allegiant Stadium can’t just be fixed with some Raiders money or any fancy renovation: the feeling of “true college football”.

“It (Sam Boyd) wasn’t perfect, but that was kind of the point,” another user chimed in. “The dirt lots, random tailgates, people pulling up with grills and coolers—it felt like real college football… and if you were feeling fancy for the big games, tailgating out on the grass hit different.”

Tailgaters and rowdy bleachers have been replaced by shuttles to/from the strip and overpriced stadium cocktails, with the upper deck usually tarped off for Rebels games.

In the modern era, where college sports continue to become more and more corporate, UNLV football’s recent success may be more enjoyable in person than it was, say, 10-20 years ago.

“All modern NFL stadiums just ooze corporate sterility,” one user wrote. “College football is my favorite sport, and part of that is because of the traditions and character that each program has. Sam Boyd was definitely outdated, but it felt more like a true, unique college venue.”

Will that “home feeling” come over time? Some say yes,

“UNLV has the ability to make it more unique than a standard college football experience,” one user wrote. “I think it’ll feel more comfortable as they spend more time there.”

Others say no.

“I hate that we have to share a stadium with the Raiders,” another user wrote. “No disrespect, but it doesn’t feel like ours when there’s Raiders stuff all over the place. Feels like we’re just borrowing it instead of having a real home-field advantage. UNLV deserves its own stadium again.”

On top of feeling sterile, the use of Allegiant Stadium doesn’t come pro bono from the Raiders.

UNLV paid nearly 2.5 million dollars to the Raiders for home games in 2023. On the other hand, the Las Vegas Stadium Authority paid the school 1.2 million dollars for missing a revenue mark in 2025, a fact contributing to a complaint from numerous users: paying NFL prices for Rebel events and concessions.

The Rebels also received 1.75 million dollars from TKO Group to move their 2025 home opener so as not to conflict with a boxing event, the reality of playing in a marquee venue, as UNLV continues to play real-life monopoly.

But as the fans reminisce or discuss the “good ole days” of Sam Boyd, the school’s contact with the Raiders includes a non-compete clause, meaning that the Rebs can not return to their old stomping grounds.

UNLV will open its season at Allegiant Stadium on August 29, 2026, against Memphis, while a 30-minute drive east, “The Boyd” sits on the chopping block to be potentially torn down.

“Since UNLV football has been winning a lot of games lately, it makes me wish we could play a game at Sam Boyd once every few years. I think the fans would actually fill it out now.”