By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Another $525,000 in public dollars have been approved Tuesday to be spent on the NFL Draft later this month after $2.4 million was approved two years ago for the sports event on the Strip.
The governing board for Las Vegas’ public tourism agency, the LVCVA, gave the OK for the $525,000 expenditure after board members were informed that the money was needed because of more transportation needs and security protocols in light of “higher than anticipated attendance of NFL prospects and other guests.”
Here’s the wording straight from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) meeting agenda:
The LVCVA had already approved $2.4 million for the NFL Draft, which will shut down the center of the Strip and be held behind the High Roller observation wheel next to the Caesars Forum convention building. The NFL’s “Draft Theater” with the stage for the selected football players is being assembled and extends to the east near Koval Road. Take a look.
Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, whose district includes the NFL Draft site at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, said the projected visitors for the Draft is in the 300,000-600,000 range. Keep in mind this Draft event was originally scheduled for April 2020, but was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here are some of the NFL Draft renderings of the “Draft Theater” and general site next to Caesars Forum:
The Bellagio fountains on the other side of the Strip will be included in the NFL Draft event as a place to serve as a red carpet.
The players will walk the “red carpet” on a platform installed in the fountains. Here’s a look at that:
PSA