Grand Sierra Resort’s Arena is a new sports and entertainment venue being built in Reno, Nevada, US.
The $435m project represents the first phase of a $1bn redevelopment of Grand Sierra Resort, which is owned by Meruelo Group founder Alex Meruelo.
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In May 2025, the Reno City Council, acting as the Reno Redevelopment Agency, approved the investment in the Grand Sierra Resort project.
Construction work on the Arena began with a ground-breaking ceremony in September 2025.
Once complete in 2027, the arena will serve as the home of the Nevada Men’s basketball team.
The Arena and related development are projected to generate between $850m and $1.135bn in direct economic impact, with total benefits estimated to be $1.34bn to $1.8bn over a 28-year period.
Location of Grand Sierra Resort’s Arena
The venue will be situated on the grounds of the 140-acre Grand Sierra Resort, which is located in the centre of the Truckee Meadows near Lake Tahoe in Reno.
The site is located a short distance from Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), which is around three miles (4.82km) south-east of downtown Reno.
The resort’s location allows convenient access for a range of visitors, including those travelling for leisure, events, or conferences.
The Arena will be integrated into currently unused sections of the resort campus, contributing to the development of a continuous entertainment district.
Grand Sierra Resort Arena design and features
The Grand Sierra Resort Arena will occupy an area of 300,000ft² (27,871m²). It will have a seating capacity of 10,000 and is expected to host a variety of events, including concerts, Nevada Men’s basketball games, and other sports events in Northern Nevada.
The facility is expected to host 95 events each year. It will include contemporary amenity spaces such as luxury suites, hospitality clubs, and a fan-focused central plaza.
The larger Grand Sierra Resort’s decade-long redevelopment plan will include the addition of a 2,800-space parking garage, a new community ice centre, and the refurbishment of the Grand Bay aquatic golf facility.
The redevelopment will also include future housing and hotel expansion, delivering 800 new hotel rooms and suites, and 300 affordable housing residences.
As part of the plans, Grand Bay, the lakefront area, will undergo comprehensive beautification.
The project will also add an entertainment destination, a walking path, and a water show in subsequent phases.
Financing details of the Grand Sierra Resort Arena
Funding for the Grand Sierra Resort expansion is being provided privately by the Meruelo Group.
The group has applied for Nevada’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a mechanism that reinvests increased property tax revenue generated by new development back into the project area.
The Redevelopment Agency approved deal terms for the Grand Sierra Resort Arena Project in May 2025.
Under this arrangement, the additional property tax generated by the enhanced value of the project over ten years will be redirected to offset the costs borne by the Meruelo Group.
According to city authorities, this will enable the project to receive reimbursements equal to 90% of the property tax increment generated by Phase I through 2035.
A prior gap analysis estimates that the property tax increment generated through the sunset of the Redevelopment Area 2 Plan, which includes the Grand Sierra Resort in 2035, will total $68.1m.
Contractors involved
The design of the Arena is the result of a collaboration between architectural company Gensler and the Meruelo Group.
Martin-Harris Construction, a construction company based in Nevada, has been appointed as the general contractor for the project.
Helix Electric, an electrical contractor, has been awarded the subcontract for electrical works.
Hunden Partners, a real estate development advisory practice, acted as adviser and consultant for financial analysis in the preparation of the proposal and report submitted to the RDA.
Additional consultants involved in the project are ME Engineers, a consulting company; Walter P Moore, an engineering company; and Aspen Earthworks, a mass excavation and grading contractor.
