The 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas is right around the corner, but preparations are already underway.
The first lane reduction on the Vegas Strip is already in effect in front of the Bellagio Resort & Casino. There will be more lane closures and reductions until after the 2022 NFL Draft is over.
The massive outdoor spectacle will take place at multiple locations around the Vegas Strip. NFL officials expect a total of 600,000 or more people to be in attendance for the three days of events from April 28-30.
As a result, Las Vegas sportsbooks should be overflowing with football fans who may not want to deal with the hustle and bustle of the Draft locations.
While the highlight for TV viewers might be the Red Carpet stage at the Bellagio Fountains, the actual draft is taking place elsewhere. The Main Stage for the NFL Draft is near the Caesars Forum convention center behind The Linq. The NFL Draft Experience activities will be located near the theater.
Due to the rather large footprint of the NFL Draft, there will be plenty of road closures. This will make walking around the Vegas Strip easier. Simultaneously, this will also make driving to this part of the Vegas Strip a bit more difficult.
2022 NFL Draft locations in Las Vegas
The events of the 2022 NFL Draft are located in two different locations. While the distance between the stages is walkable, it may be a bit more of a hike than one might expect.
Most of the events of the 2022 Las Vegas NFL Draft will take place around The Linq. The NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater will be located behind The Linq and High Roller Observation Wheel.
The Main Stage of the NFL Draft will be closer to the Caesars Forum convention center. This is a relatively new building on the east side of the Vegas Strip. This is not the Forum Shops mall at Caesars Palace.
There will be an NFL Red Carpet taking place at a different location. The red carpet will be by the Fountains at Bellagio. This part of the NFL Draft will offer fans their first look at the future stars of the NFL.
Lane reductions and road closures
The following lane reductions will take place 24 hours a day from Wednesday, April 13 to Wednesday, April 27 and Sunday, May 1 to Friday, May 6. There will be several lane reductions surrounding the intersection of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard at the corner of the Bellagio.
- Lane reductions will be just west of Bellagio’s North Valet entrance off eastbound Flamingo Road and will extend up to Bellagio Drive off southbound Las Vegas Boulevard, just past the fountains.
- The right-hand turn lane on eastbound Flamingo Road to turn south onto Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed. A second right-hand turn lane will be closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
- The two lanes in front of the Bellagio off Las Vegas Boulevard south from Flamingo Road up to Bellagio Dive. will be closed. A third southbound lane will also be closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The following road closures will be in place from Wednesday, April 27 at 10 p.m. to Saturday, April 30 at approximately 11:59 p.m.:
- Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed both directions, from Flamingo Road to Bellagio Drive (southbound) and Paris Drive (northbound).
- Flamingo Road will be closed in both directions from Las Vegas Boulevard to Koval Lane.
- The far west lane of Koval Lane from Krueger Drive to Flamingo Road will be closed.
Tips on getting to the NFL Draft events
There will be delays for anyone driving close to the NFL Draft locations at The Linq and Bellagio. It might be best for anyone not staying at a nearby hotel to park away from the events and take public transportation.
Taking the monorail from the Las Vegas Convention Center may be the easiest and least expensive option for anyone driving to the NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Convention Center will offer free parking in Silver Lots 1 and 2 and the Bronze Lot. This will allow fans free and quick access to the Monorail from the Las Vegas Convention Station. There are discounted monorail tickets available here.
Fans can exit the monorail at The Linq station to easily access the NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater. Anyone going to Bellagio can use the Bally’s Paris stop.
Those on the south end of the Vegas Strip can take the free MGM Resorts monorail that runs from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur and Park MGM to Bellagio.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recommends using the rideshare station at Tuscany Suites & Casino. The property is located at 255 E Flamingo Road. It’s just under a half-mile walk to the entrance of the Draft Experience.
2022 NFL Draft is free with NFL OnePass
The 2022 NFL Draft events are free to enjoy in person. However, anyone going to the Draft Theater or NFL Draft Experience must register for NFL OnePass. Visitors can log in with their NFL.com account. This will enable an NFL OnePass QR code that will give visitors access to the 2022 NFL Draft.
This is not optional for anyone planning on going to most of the NFL Draft events.
To reiterate, all fans attending will be required to present proof of registration with NFL OnePass online or via a mobile app for entry to the NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater.
Here are a couple more things to be aware of when going to the NFL Draft Experience and Draft Theater:
- There’s a long list of prohibited items. See the complete list here.
- The NFL Draft Experience is a cash-free event. Other forms of payment will be required to purchase food, beverages and merchandise .
