UNLV to Compensate Athletes Following Federal Ruling

The recent U.S. federal court verdict will open new avenues for compensating university athletes, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is one of the first schools in the country to publicly embrace the new opportunity to pay athletes and build its sports programs.  

One of the House vs. NCAA settlement terms is that colleges and universities will be compelled to compensate their athletes through a $2.8 billion agreement. The shift dramatically overhauls the age-old landscape that has prevailed in collegiate sports for decades.

Before the agreement, student-athletes earned the right to capitalize on their name, likeness, and image (NIL) through third-party endorsements and agreements. According to policy, compensation directly from colleges was off-limits. 

The new agreement amends those prohibitions, allowing schools to grant compensation directly to the student-athletes.

UNLV is ready to act

UNLV has stated that it will accept the terms of this historic agreement, indicating its readiness to implement a revenue-sharing policy for its student-athletes. The university stated that, unlike previous policies, it is directly funding its sportsmen for the first time through the institution.

"This groundbreaking initiative underscores our commitment to prioritizing student-athletes and enhancing their experience both academically and athletically. UNLV athletics has prepared for this transformative era, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have," UNLV said in a statement to FOX5 Vegas. 

The participating schools are now legally bound to provide a portion of the $2.8 billion set aside for previous sportsmen for their outstanding wages.

The schools will also be permitted to make direct payments to active players starting the next school year. The deal includes yearly spending caps for each athletic department, with an approximate $20.5 million allocation for the first year. However, yearly escalation is projected for the full term of the contract for the coming decade.

Dave Nourse, professor in UNLV's Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, told SBR: "The passage of SB 293 is a game-changer for college athletics in Nevada. It will allow UNLV and the University of Nevada, Reno to stay competitive in high-level collegiate athletics. Of course, this all comes with risks, and we'll see what the unintended consequences are down the line, but it's certainly a step in the right direction."  

Embracing the future of Las Vegas

UNLV's athletic teams, the Rebels, participate in the NCAA's Division I. The school's football team has previously competed in the Western Athletic Conference and the Big West Conference, and has been a member of the Mountain West since 1999. 

The Rebels NCAA basketball team plays its home games in the 17,000+ capacity Thomas & Mack Center on Maryland Parkway, close to the Las Vegas Strip; the Rebels college football team hosts its home games in the newly built, 60,000+ capacity, $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium, which it shares with the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.

UNLV has expanded the funding for its athletic facility in recent years. Among the current projects are improvements to several of its athletic complexes, including the softball and baseball stadium, and enhancements to the Peter Johann Memorial Field for soccer. 

The facility improvements will provide student-athletes with the most sophisticated practice and competition environments, which will be top recruitment tools and assist with performance, too. 

By copying the professionalism and fan engagement strategies of successful pro franchises, UNLV is attempting to build closer relationships with the local community and expand support and attendance for its athletic programs. 

Part of this is also UNLV's vision to be more of a competitor and build a more recognizable athletic brand within the sports market of Las Vegas.