By Alan Snel
LVSportsBiz.com
Leave it to Raiders stadium construction point man Don Webb — and cyclist — to use a bicycle wheel analogy to explain how 850-foot long cables will lock the massive roof trusses into place at the $1.8 billion stadium project in Las Vegas.
Workers are assembling the 26 roof trusses into the stadium form these days at the 14-acre stadium construction site across from Mandalay Bay hotel-casino on the west side of Interstate 15. And to make sure the trusses don’t move, workers will tighten 850-foot-long cables gradually all around the stadium to create the ring beam that keeps these 300-ton roof trusses in place.
“Similar to truing a bike wheel, the cables are tensioned in unison,” explained Webb, chief operating officer of the Raiders stadium project who also enjoys bicycling.
Tightening the cables in unison is a cool image — just one of 22,000 tasks required to deliver this domed, 65,000-seat stadium on budget and on time by July 31, 2020. The Raiders are spending $70 million a month on the stadium construction and will ratchet that up to $90 million a month, Webb said.
LVSportsBiz.com visited the stadium site Friday (via bicycle, all spokes tightened) for a look at the construction that is projected to yield a $1.35 billion stadium as part of an overall $1.8 billion stadium project. Southern Nevada is kicking in $750 million in public dollars, money being collected from a hotel room tax increase.
While parking will be a premium on site, Webb expects 20,000-25,000 fans to reach the stadium by hoofing it via Hacienda Avenue over I-15. The Raiders have suggested a satellite parking and shuttle concept to move to the stadium. And Bali Hai golf course at Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road is still in play.
LVSportsBiz.com plans to reach the stadium by bicycle. Bike racks are promised.
The next stadium board meeting is May 23 at 4 p.m. in the county commission chambers.
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