Shaquille O’Neal has always been larger than life—both on and off the basketball court. Now, his impact in one of his favorite cities – Las Vegas – is about to get even bigger.
The Clark County Commission has unanimously approved plans for a brand-new community facility, the Shaquille O’Neal Youth Development Complex. The center will be built in Vegas near Lamb and Lake Mead boulevards, a location that Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom called ideal, as it sits right across from three elementary schools.
Lisa Morris Hibbler, executive director of The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, shared exciting details about the project. The 34,000-square-foot facility will feature a gym, a mixed martial arts and boxing center, pre-K services, and various educational and recreational programs. The project is expected to cost $24 million, with groundbreaking scheduled for late March or early April and an anticipated opening in fall 2026.
The center will be home to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, as well as an alumni center for Communities In Schools of Nevada, an organization dedicated to helping students succeed. Programming at the complex will focus on academics, leadership, career development, sports and fitness, recreation, creative arts, and healthy lifestyles.
The foundation’s efforts were made possible in part by Clark County, which donated nearly five acres of land on Kell Lane to support the project. O’Neal, who launched his foundation in 2019, has been focused on helping underserved youth, particularly in Las Vegas and Atlanta.
Shaq’s commitment to giving back in Las Vegas is nothing new. The 7-foot-1 Hall of Famer, who retired from the NBA in 2011, has remained a major presence in the city. In 2018, he opened his Big Chicken sandwich shop just east of the Las Vegas Strip. The following year, he teamed up with Zappos for a “Shaq-to-School” event, donating shoes and school supplies to local families in need.
Shaq at one of his annual fundraisers for his Foundation – called The Event – in Las Vegas
In 2021, then-Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman honored O’Neal with a key to the city after his foundation donated $200,000 to renovate basketball courts at the Doolittle Complex.
Now, with the Shaquille O’Neal Youth Development Complex, he’s taking his efforts to a whole new level. The project is set to become a cornerstone of the community, providing kids with a safe space to learn, grow, and stay active—all while carrying the legacy of one of basketball’s biggest legends.
Shaq may have dominated the paint in his playing days, but when it comes to making a difference, he’s still throwing down slam dunks.