Las Vegas To Host 2016 Presidential Debate

LAS VEGAS, NV, USA – Las Vegas will take center stage as one of four host cities for a debate during the 2016 election season. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced that Las Vegas will host the presidential candidates on October 19, 2016. The debate will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV Campus.

“UNLV is honored to be a host venue for a presidential debate, as we believe it will bring a unique energy to one of the most diverse campuses in the country,” said UNLV President Len Jessup. “A core mission of a university is to educate future leaders and hosting a presidential debate will allow students to experience the political process first-hand and to better understand how public policy impacts their lives.”

Jessup and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (License Holder of WTC Las Vegas) President/CEO Rossi Ralenkotter are co-chairs of the Las Vegas 2016 Presidential Debate Committee.

“We are excited that Las Vegas has been chosen to host a presidential debate and we look forward to showcasing our destination,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the LVCVA. “Las Vegas is the No. 1 convention city in North America for 21 consecutive years because we know how to get business done, and we are confident that our experience and commitment to customer service will make this event a great success.”

UNLV partnered with the LVCVA and submitted an application in March of 2015 to host a debate. In April, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that Las Vegas was one of 16 sites under consideration. During the summer, UNLV and the LVCVA hosted commission staff for an on-site survey of the proposed debate venue and campus.

Las Vegas has previously hosted primary debates, presidential speeches, and been long considered for political conventions by both parties. As an early caucus state, Nevada has played a key role in the election process already this year, and hosting a presidential debate will continue to increase the global visibility of both Las Vegas and the state. The debate attracts nearly 3,500 media representatives from around the world and can generate at least $50 million in publicity for UNLV and Las Vegas, according to data from 2012 presidential debate sites.

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