'The level of backlash exceeded our expectations,' Absher said. He said all employees were prepped before the announcement. MGM spokesman Gordon Absher ('The sacrificial lamb or the goat staked to the post in 'Jurassic Park,' ' Sebelius quipped) anticipated a strong reaction from those who see free Strip parking as their birthright. 'Even the mob didn't dream of charging people for parking on the Strip.'

'If the Declaration of Independence were being written today in Las Vegas, 'free Strip parking' would be enumerated with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights,' he wrote. When MGM first announced the pay-to-park plan, Steve Sebelius, a longtime Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist, wrote that the move had been received like the arrival of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. More like, never even gave it much thought.

The 37-year-old has lived in Las Vegas since 2001 and has always enjoyed the access to free parking at the casinos. Now the casinos are treating us just like everyone else.' 'That was one of the advantages of being from here, being able to go to the Strip and park for free. When MGM bucked this time-honored tradition, Las Vegas residents reacted the way one might when dealt a 12 against the blackjack dealer's face card: anger, despair and possibly the five stages of grief. The new year will mark the end of an era for locals who have navigated the Strip without even thinking about dropping money to pay for parking. The Cosmopolitan followed suit and is joining the pay-for-parking crowd in 2017. Steve Sebelius, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnistĬaesars Entertainment announced in November it would begin charging for parking at several of its Strip properties - though, for the foreseeable future, parking will remain free for locals, who can scan their Nevada driver's licenses at the gate. Even the mob didn’t dream of charging people for parking on the Strip.

Free parking at red rock casino