Recent NFL Draft Leads to Proposed Legislation Impacting Las Vegas Strip Traffic

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The 2022 NFL Draft look place in Las Vegas from April 28 to April 30. As part of the planned festivities, all vehicle traffic in the famed Las Vegas Strip was banned during the three-day span.

As a result, Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom came up with an innovative idea. He introduced a measure that would close down the Las Vegas Strip to motor traffic on weekend mornings. The general idea is to create an appealing venue for walkers, joggers and bicyclists.

The proposed measure would also remain opened-ended for expansion beyond the morning hours of the weekend. The positive feedback from the lack of traffic during the draft appears to be the main motivation behind this effort.

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Adding to the Appeal of the Las Vegas Strip

Nevada is a state that relies heavily on tourism. Along with the Las Vegas region in the southwest corner of the state, Reno and Lake Tahoe to the north are two other popular destinations. In an effort to boost the local economies in both of these regions, local officials are taking a fresh approach in their marketing efforts.

In the case of eliminating traffic on the Las Vegas Strip, Commissioner Segerblom would like to see it implemented on a permanent basis. He released the following tweet in reference to his proposal:

“One interesting aspect of the (NFL) draft is the closing of the Strip. I think we should consider doing this permanently, people love walking between the properties.”

His next step is to meet with property owners on the Strip to build support for his idea. Given the recent success of the 2022 NFL Draft, the timing may be right. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is set to host the 2024 NFL Super Bowl.

Fremont Street Set the Precedent

Going back to 1994, the idea of restricting car traffic in certain parts of Las Vegas has been in effect. In the downtown section of the city, Fremont Street has always catered to foot traffic in this tourist destination.

The ability to move freely around the Las Vegas Strip by foot would probably gain mass appeal to visitors and guests staying in all the various casino resorts. The impact of restricting motor traffic on area businesses would have to be addressed to gain the same level of appeal from owners.

The entire future of the Las Vegas Strip remains in a constant state of flux. Just the other week, Tilman Fertitta expressed interest in building a brand new casino resort. The owner of the Golden Nugget Casinos brand has begun the process to acquire the necessary land.

The Siegel Group has a major vested interest in the Las Vegas Strip as a real estate investment and management company. It recently acquired 10 acres of property on Las Vegas Boulevard. The company’s intent is to build a new hotel and casino along with housing and retail space.

While completely eliminating motor traffic in and out of the Las Vegas Strip may sound a bit farfetched, the idea is not without its merits.

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