NFL Draft In Vegas: Getting Around Will Be A Gamble

Preparations are already underway for the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, which is fast approaching.

The Vegas Strip has already implemented the first lane reduction in front of the Bellagio Resort & Casino. Further lane closures and reductions are anticipated to continue until the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The grand outdoor event will be held at various spots around the Vegas Strip. NFL authorities anticipate a crowd of 600,000 or more over the three-day event from April 28-30.

Consequently, Las Vegas sportsbooks are likely to be packed with football fans who may prefer to avoid the commotion at the Draft locations.

The Red Carpet stage at the Bellagio Fountains may be the highlight for TV viewers, but the actual draft is happening elsewhere. The NFL Draft’s Main Stage is situated near the Caesars Forum convention center, behind The Linq. Additionally, the NFL Draft Experience activities will be set up close to the theater.

The substantial presence of the NFL Draft will result in numerous road closures. Consequently, pedestrian movement along the Vegas Strip will be more convenient. However, this will also make vehicular access to this part of the Vegas Strip somewhat more challenging.

2022 NFL Draft locations in Las Vegas

The 2022 NFL Draft events are held in two separate venues. Although the distance between the stages can be covered on foot, it may present a longer trek than anticipated.

The majority of the activities for the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas will be held in the vicinity of The Linq. The NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater will be situated behind The Linq and the High Roller Observation Wheel.

The NFL Draft’s Main Stage will be nearer to the Caesars Forum convention center, a relatively new building located on the east side of the Vegas Strip. It’s worth mentioning that this is not the same as the Forum Shops mall at Caesars Palace.

An NFL Red Carpet event is set to take place at a new location, specifically by the Fountains at Bellagio. This segment of the NFL Draft will provide fans with their initial glimpse at the NFL’s future stars.

Lane reductions and road closures

Lane reductions will be in effect 24 hours daily from Wednesday, April 13 to Wednesday, April 27, and again from Sunday, May 1 to Friday, May 6. These reductions will primarily impact the intersection of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard by the Bellagio.

• The lane reductions will start just west of the North Valet entrance of Bellagio, off eastbound Flamingo Road, and will continue up to Bellagio Drive off southbound Las Vegas Boulevard, just beyond the fountains.
• The right-turn lane on Flamingo Road heading east to turn south onto Las Vegas Boulevard will be shut. Additionally, another right-turn lane will be closed daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The two lanes leading to the Bellagio from Flamingo Road up to Bellagio Drive on Las Vegas Boulevard South will be shut. Additionally, a third lane heading south will be closed daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Road closures will be effective from 10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27 to approximately 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.

• Las Vegas Boulevard will be shut down in both directions: from Flamingo Road to Bellagio Drive for southbound traffic, and to Paris Drive for northbound traffic.
• Flamingo Road, from Las Vegas Boulevard to Koval Lane, will be shut down in both directions.
• The lane furthest west on Koval Lane, stretching from Krueger Drive to Flamingo Road, will be shut down.

Tips on getting to the NFL Draft events

Anyone driving near the NFL Draft locations at The Linq and Bellagio should anticipate delays. Those not staying at a nearby hotel might find it more convenient to park further away from the events and utilize public transportation.

For anyone driving to the NFL Draft, the easiest and least expensive option might be to take the monorail from the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Las Vegas Convention Center is providing free parking at Silver Lots 1 and 2, as well as the Bronze Lot, enabling fans to access the Monorail at the Las Vegas Convention Station swiftly and without charge. Discounted monorail tickets can also be purchased here.

Those wishing to visit the NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater can disembark from the monorail at The Linq station. Just as well, the Bally’s Paris stop can be used by anyone wishing to go to Bellagio.

Those located at the south end of the Vegas Strip can utilize the complimentary MGM Resorts monorail service, which operates between Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, Park MGM, and Bellagio.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority suggests utilizing the rideshare station at Tuscany Suites & Casino. This property can be found at 255 E Flamingo Road, and it’s just less than half a mile walk to the entrance of the Draft Experience.

2022 NFL Draft is free with NFL OnePass

The events of the 2022 NFL Draft are free to attend in person. Nevertheless, individuals intending to visit the Draft Theater or NFL Draft Experience are required to register for NFL OnePass. Attendees can sign in using their NFL.com account, which will activate an NFL OnePass QR code, granting them access to the 2022 NFL Draft.

Attending most of the NFL Draft events requires this, it’s not optional for anyone.

To restate, everyone attending must show proof of registration with NFL OnePass either online or through a mobile app to gain entry to the NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater.

When attending the NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater, be aware of the following additional things:

• A comprehensive list of forbidden items can be found here.
• The NFL Draft Experience operates on a cashless basis. Alternative payment methods will be needed to buy food, drinks, and merchandise.