Insomniac has secured $10 million in Clark County redevelopment money to turn the old Sahara Event Center at 800 Liberace Avenue into a new live music and events space.
Clark County is moving forward with a plan to reshape Las Vegas entertainment. On September 15, 2026, the county’s Redevelopment Agency voted 6–0 to set aside $10 million for Insomniac to overhaul the former Sahara Event Center. The money is earmarked for the property at 800 Liberace Avenue. According to a Las Vegas Review-Journal report, the funds are not available yet. They depend on a formal agreement between Insomniac and the county.
The final design and opening date for the venue have not been announced. Still, the county’s move is unusual. It is a rare public investment in a private live events operator right in the Historic Commercial Center. Insomniac, known for EDC Las Vegas, currently leases the building. The company has been working with county officials to turn the space into a permanent home for concerts and special events. Commissioner Tick Segerblom said Insomniac plans to put in another $20 million of its own money. That would bring the total project funding to $30 million if the public money is finalized, as reported by Casino.org.
What the funding means for Las Vegas
The $10 million is set aside for buying the property and making major upgrades. But the money will only be released after Insomniac and the county sign a formal agreement and the board approves it. That step is still ahead. No construction or opening date has been set. Some local residents spoke against the plan at the public meeting, but the commission moved forward without any votes against it. Commissioner Segerblom said the deal would let Insomniac finish buying the building and invest in the event center. County officials have not given a timeline for the agreement or when work might start.
County documents cited by Nevada Business show early plans for a main warehouse-style floor that could hold about 5,000 guests ages 18 and up. There would also be a separate lounge for guests 21 and over on the upper level. The outline also calls for using the nearby county-owned parking lot for bigger outdoor events. All these details could change as the project goes through more approvals.
Insomniac’s expanding Las Vegas footprint
This funding comes as Insomniac is growing fast in Southern Nevada. Earlier this year, Clark County commissioners approved the first World Party Parade, which took over the Las Vegas Strip on May 14, the night before EDC’s 30th anniversary. Just after the festival, Insomniac announced that EDC Las Vegas will expand to two weekends in 2027. EDC Dusk is set for May 14–16, and EDC Dawn for May 21–23. For more on the festival’s expansion, see our recent coverage.
Insomniac’s push for a permanent venue shows how deep its ties to Las Vegas entertainment have become. The Sahara Event Center project is part of a larger effort to revive the Historic Commercial Center. County leaders have spent years trying to bring new life to the area. The site is described as one of Las Vegas’s last historic rock-music venues, according to Casino.org. If the project is finished, Insomniac would have a year-round base for live music and special events. This could add even more to the city’s packed calendar of concerts and festivals.
What happens next
The next step is for Insomniac and Clark County to negotiate and approve a formal agreement. Only then will the $10 million in redevelopment funds be released. Until that happens, the venue is still in the planning stage. There is no official name or opening date yet. Local TV coverage says Commissioner Segerblom expects the agreement to move forward in October 2026. He pointed out that the September vote was just for funding, not final project approval.
Clark County’s decision to put public money into a private live events venue marks a shift, especially in a city already full of entertainment options. If the project goes ahead as planned, Insomniac could get a unique platform to shape the future of live music in Las Vegas. The Historic Commercial Center could also get a long-awaited boost. The real question is whether this partnership can deliver a venue that stands out in a city built on big shows and tough competition.
