2 more Strip resorts to reinstate parking fees

The bright lights of the Sphere may cost more now as nearby Strip resorts are reinstating parking fees because of increased demand.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. on Friday announced that Wynn and Encore Las Vegas are reinstating self-parking fees for nonresort guests beginning Sept. 27, but for all visitors, the first four hours of parking will be free.

The company said the daily parking fee would be $20 per day in the two self-parking lots. Valet parking will be $40 per day.

The new parking policy is a result of “the anticipated increased demand for parking at nearby attractions, and a higher volume of citywide events,” the company said.

Sphere, the 17,500-seat entertainment venue just south of Wynn Las Vegas, opens its doors for the first time Sept. 29 with the first of 25 concerts by U2. The showing of the film “Postcard from Earth” opens Oct. 6.

In addition, the 4,748-room Wynn and Encore resorts are right on the periphery of the 3.8-mile Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix race course. The inaugural Las Vegas race runs, with practices, the evenings of Nov. 16-18.

“The program is intended to ensure ample, free parking is available for guests to visit and enjoy the resort’s dining, entertainment and shopping amenities,” the company said in a release.

According to the release, complimentary self-parking will be extended to all registered Resort and Tower Suite guests, Wynn Poker Room guests, Private Access members and Wynn Rewards members in the Chairman, Platinum and Black tiers.

Complimentary valet parking will be available to guests staying in the Wynn and Encore Tower Suites, Wynn Rewards Black and Chairman Card members, Private Access members, and guests of Delilah, a fine-dining restaurant at Wynn.

Wynn and Encore first began charging for parking in August 2017, following a trend that began with MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Inc. properties on the Strip. Paid parking has since been adopted by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (now an MGM property), Resorts World Las Vegas and, earlier this month, The Venetian and Palazzo. Wynn bucked the trend by discontinuing parking charges in July 2018.

But when Sphere first illuminated the building’s giant exosphere on July 4, curious viewers sought places to park to get a look, some of them finding nearby parking garages to be the best locations. Social media posts identified the top floor of the garage at Encore as one of the ideal spots to see it, but Wynn and other properties voiced safety concerns about people using those vantage points.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.