The Nevada System of Higher Education will spend $3.2 million to make almost 70 seats at the University of Nevada Reno's Mackay Stadium compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that The Board of Regents in July authorized the university to pursue a lawsuit against WorthGroup Architects after the university found that dozens of wheelchair seats at the stadium still did not meet federal disability standards after renovations in 2015, followed by a second round of work to correct the issues in 2017.
To abide by standards set forth in the ADA, Mackay Stadium must have a minimum of 140 ADA-compliant, integrated wheelchair spaces whose sight lines are as good as those available to other spectators. A university study found that only 76 of those seats met the criteria.
The university says the funding now so that workers can complete the corrections in time for the fall 2020 football season.
The money will be spent to add wheelchair spaces and companion seats in the north, south and west sections of the stadium, as well as correct additional ADA compliance issues in the loge box and suite areas.
The university will take out a tax-exempt 10-year bank loan to cover the costs of the work. Officials expect that any funds recovered from litigation will be used to pay back the loan, but for now, proceeds from ticket sales will be used to cover the repayment.
