Overview
Project Overview
Allegiant Stadium is a $1.9 billion, 1.8 million-square-foot domed stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, built as the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
I served as the Mechanical Project Manager for the dry-side mechanical scope, which was a major undertaking on a project of this size and complexity. The scope included large custom air-handling systems serving the stadium, extensive galvanized ductwork, large-diameter fabric duct distribution around the stadium bowl, pollution control units, kitchen exhaust and grease duct systems, and coordination with architectural, structural, electrical, controls, and food-service trades.
One of the most significant portions of the work was the stadium air distribution system, including fabric duct up to approximately 108 inches in diameter installed around the bowl to support cooling and air movement throughout the enclosed venue. The project also included substantial kitchen exhaust and grease duct routing, with long duct runs extending across major portions of the stadium and requiring careful coordination through multiple levels, structural conditions, and active work areas.
The dry-side mechanical work required detailed planning, continuous field coordination, and constant problem-solving across hundreds of concurrent trades. We also supported value-engineering efforts that converted portions of the original design to a plenum return strategy, improving constructability while maintaining the design intent.
This project represented large-scale mechanical construction at the highest level: major air systems, large duct distribution, complex routing, aggressive schedule demands, and a facility where comfort, reliability, and performance were critical to the owner, team, and future guests.
Key challenge
Installing 108-inch oval fabric duct hundreds of feet above the field level around the upper stadium bowl. The team developed a custom pulley system to safely hoist the duct from the field level up to elevated work platforms, allowing the duct to be positioned and installed efficiently at height.
In the field
A major execution strategy was the use of prefabricated shaft assemblies. Instead of each trade installing separately inside the shaft, we coordinated with the other subcontractors to build complete multi-trade shaft frames in advance.
Mechanical piping, ductwork, electrical, fire protection, and related systems were all installed into coordinated steel frames, then craned into place and bolted in. This improved installation speed, reduced work at height and inside the shaft, and created a safer, more efficient workflow for the field teams.
Outcome
The project was completed on schedule in 2020 for the Raiders’ first NFL season in Las Vegas. Although Allegiant Stadium opened during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Raiders played the 2020 season without fans in attendance, the stadium was delivered in time for its intended opening season.