Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium Garners Barrier-Free America Award From Paralyzed Veterans Of America
By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Steve Hill said one out of every eight Americans has a mobility issue, so he observed it’s good business for an NFL stadium to be as accessible as possible to fans who have challenges in getting around.
“It’s a smart business decision,” the LVCVA tourism agency head and Las Vegas Stadium Board chairman told people gathered at Allegiant Stadium where the Paralyzed Veterans of America group gave the “Barrier-Free America Award” to the NFL Raiders-built stadium Monday morning.
The 80-year-old veterans organization has singled out a museum, water park, airport and NFL U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for this award in the past. The organization’s director of architecture, Mike Lichter, said the Raiders stadium stood apart from other sports venues because the stadium’s designers made conscious decisions to create a stadium with features that accommodate people with physical hardships.
The stadium has wide concourses, accessible seating areas, adult changing tables and elevators and entrances that accommodate fans with physical mobility challenges.
The organization works on barrier issues around the country, from accessibility hurdles on public sidewalks to access to and inside buildings.
The Raiders stadium was built thanks to a 2016 state law that earmarked $750 million in public dollars from Southern Nevada to help construct the domed venue that sits on the west side of I-15 across from Mandalay Bay hotel-casino. The public is raising more than $1 billion to pay off the debt on contributing $750 million to help build the Raiders stadium.
