News Summary
The Mountain West Conference will move its headquarters from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas by July 2026, amid significant realignments in college athletics. Commissioner Gloria Nevarez emphasized Las Vegas as a city of innovation, aligning with shifts in member institutions like UNLV. Several schools are set to leave for the Pac-12, while remaining members will share exit fees of approximately $18 million. This strategic transition positions the Mountain West favorably within the competitive landscape of college sports.
Las Vegas
The Mountain West Conference will relocate its headquarters from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Las Vegas, Nevada, by July 2026. The decision comes as the conference undergoes significant changes amid a wave of conference realignments in college athletics.
In her annual address at Mountain West media days, Commissioner Gloria Nevarez highlighted Las Vegas as “a city of innovation and opportunity,” making it a fitting home for the conference’s future. This strategic move aligns with recent negotiations surrounding the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), which has played a critical role in the Mountain West’s shifting dynamics.
The relocation follows announcements from several member schools, including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, stating their plans to depart for the Pac-12 in September 2024. Utah State will join them as part of this transition, competing in the Pac-12 beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
As part of the restructuring, both UNLV and Air Force have chosen to remain with the Mountain West, influenced by an attractive exit fee distribution that is expected to result in total payouts of around $18 million. Remaining schools will share 24.5% of the exit fees, while the remaining full-member institutions will see a significantly smaller cut of 11.5%, and Hawaii, a football-only member, will receive just 5%.
The recent collective decision to relocate the conference offices to Las Vegas reflects a united front among the schools that have opted to stay. The entire operations of the Mountain West, including its main office, studio, replay center, and day-to-day functions, will be based in Las Vegas.
Efforts to retain the conference in Colorado Springs included proposed expansions and discounted hotel rates for conventions, although these measures were ultimately unsuccessful. Davis Tutt, the senior director of sports tourism for Colorado Springs, expressed disappointment over the loss of the conference headquarters, emphasizing the city’s commitment to supporting the Mountain West.
Jessie Kimber, economic development director, also noted that the city had previously collaborated with the conference to market Colorado Springs as “Olympic City USA.”
As the Mountain West makes this transition, new plans for remote work are in place. The conference has stated that some of its 22 current employees will remain in Colorado Springs initially, while new hires will transition directly to the Las Vegas office.
This move comes as the Mountain West prepares for the implications following significant changes in conference memberships, particularly in light of the restructured Pac-12. The league has announced a pause on any further membership adjustments while it engages in negotiations for new media rights deals.
With five schools set to depart for the Pac-12, discussions regarding exit fees totaling approximately $150 million have emerged, with mediation anticipated in January 2026.
Additionally, the Mountain West has welcomed several new schools into its fold, including Grand Canyon University, Hawaii (across all sports), Northern Illinois (football only), UTEP, and UC Davis (non-football). The inclusion of these institutions presents both opportunities and challenges as the conference works to integrate these new members while managing existing commitments and prospective changes.
The relocation to Las Vegas marks a significant shift in the Mountain West Conference’s strategy and positions the league favorably within the competitive landscape of college athletics. As the situation unfolds, member schools and fans alike are keen to see how these developments will shape the future of the Mountain West.
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Additional Resources
- Mountain West Conference Preseason Team Announcement
- Mountain West Conference’s Move to Las Vegas
- Boise State Football Updates
- New York Times on Mountain West and Pac-12 Realignment
- San Diego Union Tribune on Mountain West Issues
- Wikipedia: Mountain West Conference
- Google Search: Mountain West Conference realignment
- Google Scholar: Mountain West Conference
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Mountain West Conference
- Google News: Mountain West Conference
