Designing a 24/7 Entertainment Hub in Reno

A gateway to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Reno, Nevada, has long been known as “The Biggest Little City in the World,” for its robust gambling and nightlife scene and access to outdoor amenities, while retaining its small city charm. As Reno looks to evolve and diversify its economy to rebound from an overreliance on tourism and gaming, the city is now undergoing a major reinvention.

As part of this transformation, Gensler is collaborating with Meruelo Group on a new comprehensive master plan, the Grand Sierra Resort Arena and Casino expansion. This plan seeks to reimagine an underutilized 140-acre property into a premier sports and entertainment destination — the largest private capital investment in the city’s history, with a phased project timeline over the next decade.

The centerpiece of this visionary project is a cutting-edge, 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena. The Grand Sierra Resort Reno Arena is more than just a sports venue; it’s a fully integrated destination that radically transforms the possibilities of architecture in shaping a lifestyle built around seamless entertainment. It intertwines sports with hospitality, leisure, and civic-focused spaces to create a new kind of year-round destination, which is active and energetic from day to night.

Flexible, Interconnected Functions

While the 300,000 square-foot arena is designed to host a wide variety of concerts and performances, it will also serve as the main venue for the University of Nevada basketball games. However, the concept extends beyond that to create a fully integrated resort.

The arena will be integrated into Reno’s casino and resort complex, with clear sightlines, circulation, and adjacencies — creating a seamless experience for visitors. It envisions users engaging in a variety of activities, such as morning skating at the new community ice rink, congregating and dining in the fan plaza, attending a concert or a game in the arena, and then heading to the expanded resort hotel.

Architecture as Conduit

Beyond a mere spectacle, the arena will act as a conduit, linking the remainder of the resort campus. The design interweaves experiences, ranging from the expansive public plazas to the privacy of premium clubs and suites, to encourage participation from residents, fans, and tourists alike.

Fully integrating the arena within the existing casino and resort complex mitigates the drawbacks of geographically isolated, standalone venues. Each programmatic component works in concert with the others, producing a rhythm of 27/7 activity that is reinforced through architecture.

Broadening a Lifestyle

The master plan extends well beyond the confines of the arena. Visitors and fans can gather in the fan zone, a flexible community space designed to host community celebrations and other events as easily as pre-game festivities. New lakeside amenities, including walking paths, golf simulators, and a water spectacle, offer recreational activities for all ages. Planned riverfront residences and a new hotel tower enhance the vision of a single place where people can live, work, and play.

A Framework for Connection

What distinguishes the Reno Arena project is its emphasis on community connection through design. Public ice rink facilities encourage year-round recreation, youth sports, and family activities. The arena’s event programming brings together students, locals, and national visitors alike. The hospitality elements extend the experience beyond a single night, creating lasting engagement.

In this sense, architecture is more than form-making. It becomes a framework for lifestyle, fostering interaction and belonging while supporting a diverse range of cultural, recreational, and entertainment activities.

Building the 24/7 Entertainment City

The Reno Arena project represents a model of how integrated planning can transform a resort into a true urban-scale destination. It demonstrates how architecture can knit together varied programs into a holistic experience, creating value not only for visitors but also for the broader community.

By emphasizing continuity of experience and diversity of activity, the project sets a new standard for 24/7 entertainment environments. It shows how thoughtful architecture can elevate a city’s identity while providing a platform for culture, sport, and community to thrive together.