The delivery, coordination, and assembly of several hundred components for a complex cable-net roof structure presented a significant logistical challenge for the engineering team at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The roof construction not only had to adhere to a very tight timeline, but all information needed to be provided via digital format, as required by the design-build contractor.

  • Owner
    LV Stadium Events Company, LLC
  • Client
    Mortenson-McCarthy Las Vegas Stadium JV
  • Project Duration
    April 2018-March 2020
  • Project Partners
    Design-Build Contractor: Mortenson-McCarthy Las Vegas Stadium JV
    Designer: Arup
Key figures

A Cable Roof
for the Allegiant Stadium

Freyssinet was contracted to design, supply, and construct a cable-net roof structure for Allegiant Stadium, a new venue with a seating capacity of up to 72,000 people. The lens-shaped roof consists of 100 fully locked-coil cables of varying diameters, ranging from 2 to 3 inches, arranged on a perpendicular grid. It features 152 struts that connect the top and bottom nets using numerous connectors and anchors. An ETFE membrane placed on top of the cables allows the stadium to be converted into an indoor venue.

Freyssinet’s Misson

At the core of the iconic Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Freyssinet undertook the mission of delivering a fully functional long-span lightweight roof structure designed to support the ETFE and secondary steel cladding system. The project required Freyssinet to manage all aspects of design, supply, and installation, providing comprehensive solutions from engineering to on-site execution.

Freyssinet’s responsibilities included the supply of essential materials and equipment, such as 52,500 feet of full locked cables, cable cross clamps, steel struts, sockets, jacking systems, and temporary steel structures. The team also managed the project’s layout, detailing, coordination, engineered shop drawings, erection methodologies, temporary works, and seating bowl protection, ensuring every component was seamlessly integrated for successful completion.

The roof structure, weighing 1,575,000 pounds, was initially assembled on the ground and then lifted into place using 50-strand jacks, each with a 400-ton capacity. Working in unison, these jacks hoisted the massive structure 185 feet to its final position. Once elevated, Freyssinet engineered precise means and methods to secure each cable to the outer steel structure of the stadium. The final step involved utilizing 100 hollow jacks to tension the cables, according to the designed specifications, guaranteeing structural integrity and long-term performance.

At its peak, Freyssinet mobilized 25 supervisors and 80 highly skilled workers on-site, demonstrating the company’s capacity to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects with precision and efficiency. This project exemplifies Freyssinet’s ability to combine advanced engineering, innovative lifting techniques, and expert fieldwork to support the construction of world-class venues.

  • 200
    Number of Hyend Open Spelter Sockets
  • 699
    Span of Cable-Net Structure (ft)
  • 1,174
    Clamps
  • 100k+
    Bolts

Effective Management was Crucial

The cable-net structure required hundreds of components in various sizes, types, and specifications, along with extensive paperwork related to quality control procedures. To address this, the team brainstormed the necessary capabilities for a digital tool and collaborated with sister company Sixense to enhance its existing Digitalsite system.

During the project, the need to work with a BIM model benefited Freyssinet’s team and led them to create and implement a digital tool to enhance their production, checking, and quality control processes.

“DigitalSite was used to help us install and inspect the roof of the stadium, which incorporated more than 150,000 different elements. This innovative tool allowed us to carry out the quality control process very efficiently and also proved useful to the site team thanks to its 3D viewer. It is one of the main factors contributing to the success of the project.” – Nicolas Wotschke, Deputy Project Manager

The main requirements included a tablet-based data control system that allowed users to access up-to-date information directly from the BIM model. This system needed to help users understand how each cable-net element fit into the overall structure through a 3D viewer. Additionally, users should be able to fill out control sheets and submit them for approval, identify components using QR codes to ensure they matched the required specifications, and submit and track non-conformance reports—all within a paperless environment.

Cable Roof Stadium Digital Tool

Freyssinet, in collaboration with its partner Sixense, dedicated several months to developing a digital tool and user interface before commencing work on-site. The primary benefits of this tool included enabling traceability of all information—both the data sent to the site and the as-built information returned. The tablet is lightweight and portable for on-site use, eliminates the need for printed copies, and features a 3D viewer that helps operatives easily understand the assembly of a complex structure.

Additionally, resolving non-conformance reports was much easier, as these could be accompanied by photos of the relevant products, reducing potential translation issues with overseas suppliers.

Overall, the digital tool significantly improved productivity and quality control by minimizing the time needed to submit and resolve issues while ensuring proper documentation and traceability. This pilot project shows promise for further development, using feedback from its successful implementation at Allegiant Stadium.

Project Completion

Once complete, the venue broke records as one of the fastest-designed and most expensive stadiums in the world. The domed stadium is now home to the NFL Raiders after the team's relocation in 2020. It also hosts UNLV Football, along with a variety of other sporting and non-sporting events. In addition, our safety record was impeccable, with more than 140,000 man-hours worked without a Lost Time Injury.

Cable Systems

Freyssinet's stay cables are widely regarded as the most reliable, durable, and technically advanced systems available worldwide and represent the culmination of decades of rigorous research, testing, and development.
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Heavy Lifting Solutions

Lifting and handling heavy structures is a complex operation. From the early design phase to final operation, Freyssinet provides customized solutions tailored to each project configuration.
Discover Our Solutions

Cable Systems

Freyssinet's stay cables are widely regarded as the most reliable, durable, and technically advanced systems available worldwide and represent the culmination of decades of rigorous research, testing, and development.
Learn More

Heavy Lifting Solutions

Lifting and handling heavy structures is a complex operation. From the early design phase to final operation, Freyssinet provides customized solutions tailored to each project configuration.
Discover Our Solutions

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