UNLV Greenlights Vegas Loop Station, Overturning Earlier Rejection

By Blog


Published on: June 23, 2026, 01:45h.

Updated on: June 23, 2026, 01:46h.

  • UNLV has nearly unanimously approved the establishment of an underground Vegas Loop station on its campus, reversing a previous year’s denial
  • The Boring Co. will fully fund and construct the station near the Thomas & Mack Center and will transfer ownership to UNLV upon completion
  • As part of the agreement, the university can generate revenue from unused parking spaces during major stadium events

UNLV has given the green light to a multimillion-dollar Vegas Loop station on its Las Vegas campus, a shift from last year’s rejection of a similar proposal.

UNLV Campus
The planned UNLV station for the Vegas Loop will be situated in the parking area of the university’s Thomas & Mack Center. (Image: Shutterstock)

The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents’ recent vote clears the path for the Boring Co., founded by Elon Musk, to develop an underground transit station on UNLV property.

This station is set to be positioned at the western edge of the UNLV campus, utilizing part of the parking lot adjacent to the Thomas & Mack Center. While a specific timeline hasn’t been established, the Boring Co. has indicated that the project will wrap up within one year of breaking ground.

UNLV’s Change of Heart

This decision follows a December 4, 2025 NSHE meeting where UNLV initially dismissed the Boring Co.’s campus station proposal due to concerns that it wouldn’t sufficiently benefit students and faculty.

Additionally, there were apprehensions that a Vegas Loop station could turn UNLV’s parking facilities into complimentary parking for travelers using Harry Reid International Airport, who might leave their vehicles on campus while accessing the airport via the station. (On Monday, officials at Harry Reid announced an increase in daily and hourly fees across all lots, with new caps set at $38 for short-term, $20 for long-term, and $14 for economy.)

The revised proposal, introduced in June, has been deemed significantly more appealing as it included provisions for the Boring Co. to finance and construct the station on UNLV’s land, thereby granting the university usage rights and the ability to generate revenue from parking during peak demand events at the Thomas & Mack Center and other venues in Las Vegas.

“The opportunity to monetize unused parking at the Thomas & Mack Center during high-demand events will effectively alleviate the parking expenses for UNLV students, helping sustain parking across our entire campus,” stated UNLV interim president Chris Heavey during the meeting. “It will also enhance access to the Thomas & Mack Center for major events, such as the National Finals Rodeo, especially when our parking lot is packed with thousands of tourists coming to participate from the resort corridor.”

Furthermore, the Boring Co. has incentivized students with a 25% discount on Vegas Loop tickets, along with a 10% discount for faculty and staff.

The station approval passed with only one regent opposing it.



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