His work day has included plenty of construction noise and dust over the past year, and Thomas & Mack Center executive director Mike Newcomb gets plenty of use out of the hard hat he keeps near his desk.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas will host the final presidential debate before next year's election, boosting the city's growing influence in a race that already has brought a long succession of candidates to Southern Nevada.

A private arena being built on the Strip is soaking up the media attention but UNLV is quietly remodeling Thomas &Mack Center and launching a naming rights initiative for the three-building sports complex of Thomas &Mack, Cox Pavilion and Mendenhall Center.