Cashman Center

Why did Cashman Center never truly catch on? We’re here at Cashman Center, a place with a rich history but a somewhat uncertain legacy. Cashman Center sits on 50 acres in downtown Las Vegas. It boasts a theater, exhibit halls, meeting rooms, and the adjacent Cashman Field. The story begins in 1948 with local developer, James “Big Jim” Cashman Sr. He spearheaded the construction of Elks Stadium at Cashman Field. The stadium hosted the Las Vegas Wranglers and even a World Series exhibition game in 1954. But over time, the area fell into disrepair. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) took over in 1983. They invested $26 million to revitalize and expand the site. This expansion transformed Cashman Field into Cashman Center. The new complex included a convention center, a theater with nearly 2,000 seats, and a revamped stadium. The Las Vegas Stars, later the 51s, began playing at Cashman Field in 1983. The theater hosted Broadway shows, presidential debates, and community events. However, Cashman Center faced increasing competition. The World Market Center and The Smith Center for the Performing Arts drew bigger events. By 2017, the LVCVA transferred control of Cashman Center to the city. The exhibition center and theater closed. The Moscow Ballet’s performance in December 2017 marked the theater’s final show. While the Las Vegas Lights FC soccer team moved into Cashman Field in 2018, the rest of the complex remained underutilized. The city has attempted to sell the site but hasn’t found a buyer. Cashman Center stands as a testament to Las Vegas’s ever-evolving landscape, a place where history and progress intertwine in complex ways.