Arizona is currently slated to play a road game at UNLV on Sept. 7, but that plan appears to be changing. Now it is likely that the contest will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., which is the home of the Arizona Cardinals. It was UNLV’s idea to change the venue (via the Las Vegas Sun) because the move will provide a significant payday to the school -- perhaps as much as $1 million.
Arizona vs. UNLV likely moving to Cardinals’ stadium
The Rebels are willing to give up a home game in order to make some extra money.
Otto Kitsinger III
For more on these schools: Mountain West Connection Arizona Desert Swarm
That financial boost appears to be the main motivator for the Rebels’ willingness to give up a true home game for a pseudo-neutral site game played far closer to the opponent’s home field. Via Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun, UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood (who was once Arizona’s AD) had this to say about it:
“If I had my first choice we’d never move a game like that,” Livengood said. “But from a fiscal standpoint, we don’t want to be laying people off or dropping programs and this is one of the ways that can help us right now.”
The Rebels are also scheduled to play at Arizona (in Tucson) to open the 2014 season.
There are details yet to be ironed out -- among them, how to compensate UNLV fans who purchased season tickets believing that Arizona would be the school’s home opener. Should the change of venue become official, the Rebels won’t open at home until Sept. 14 against Central Michigan.
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