Oral history interview with Doris Watson conducted by Claytee D. White on May 7, 2024 for the Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project. In this interview, Watson discusses her childhood in Colorado and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. She recalls finding relief and success in both sports and education, excelling in math, science, basketball, and cross country. Watson discusses the importance of coaching, a skill that Watson still applies to her graduate students in the field of education at UNLV. With over 20 years of experience in sports pedagogy, Watson joined UNLV's Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education in 2011. Digital audio available.
Archival Collection
Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports Interviews
Oral history interview with Rick Arpin conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on May 22, 2024 for the Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project. In this interview, Las Vegas native Rick Arpin reflects on his East Las Vegas childhood, his career in accounting and finance, and his role with MGM Resorts in conceiving, building, and operating the T-Mobile Arena, home of the Vegas Golden Knights. Arpin mostly focuses on the idea of what would become T-Mobile arena, possible sites and designs for the arena, and putting everything on hold through the financial crisis (2008-2009) and the building of City Center (2008-2010). He talks about MGM Resorts realizing they had to manage all sports and entertainment venues across the company, including security, vendors, booking, and all operations. Arpin recalls the multiple people, institutions, and determination that helped chip away the "stigma" that professional and collegiate sports felt clouded Las Vegas as a location for professional or collegiate sports. Digital audio available.
Archival Collection
Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports Interviews
Oral history interview with Dan Coronel conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on May 23, 2024 for the Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project. In this interview, Coronel discusses when he began playing lacrosse in the sixth grade while living with his family in Baltimore, Maryland. When Coronel moved to California, he began to play on the Malibu lacrosse team whose home field was at Pepperdine University. He recalls later switching to the South Bay Club, and as the sport gained more popularity in Las Vegas, he found himself refereeing games in the city often. Eventually, he describes making connections with the two original clubs in Las Vegas: the Centennial Bull Dogs and Palo Verde Panthers. He talks about working across the 11 districts in the United States and in many foreign countries as a referee, and his excitement about seeing lacrosse in the 2028 Olympics. He discusses lacrosse not being santioned in Clark County School District, which means it is still a club sport. However, Coronel works to make sure anyone interested can play lacrosse, connecting equipment manufacturers and others who may have a surplus with those in need. Digital audio and photographs available.
Archival Collection
Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports Interviews