Getting to Sam Boyd Stadium?

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oak_street1981

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Like many, I am not part of the Creative Charters trip and have no intention of renting a car in Las Vegas. I am concerned about getting to Sam Boyd Stadium in a sober if driving, timely and cost effective manner.

It seems that a cab ride from The Strip (12 miles?) could be about $35 each way, with the main problem being a lack of cabs available after the game. I really do not want charter a limo each way either with bigger costs (exceeding the cost of the whole hotel stay) traded for reliability post game.

I doubt the "free" hotel shuttles are going to run anyone out to the stadium for the cost of a tip in LV as happens in other places due to the need to butter the bread of the Limo/Taxi people, but that is a possibility.

If anyone has insight into group shuttle options to Sam Boyd Stadium on 8/30 or other ideas, this would be a good forum and a good time to air them.

I am guessing I'll bite the bullet and prepay for a limo service or take a cab out and hope for the best after the game, but this is not looking good.
 

I would rent a car for one day. Your hotel or many spots on the strip rent cars. Take the time and drive out to the Dam. Check out the new bridge. Then just stop at the stadium on your way back into town, you will go right by it.
 

Bet like a whale and the casinos will comp you a limo.

Also, I'm pretty sure this is one of the limos owned by my buddy's buddy. VIP room in the back. And I believe he has another one with a hot tub on the back and a stripper pole inside.

bigbluevalleyoffire2a.jpg
 

Getting to the stadium won't be a problem, but good luck getting home. Unless you rent a car, it is a crapshoot. I had friends who supposedly had a driver coming to pick them up, but he apparently took someone else. After wandering around for a while, they stumbled into me and I gave them a ride back. Also, tailgate in air conditioned bars - the desert is HOT.

Rent a car.
 

Parking is free south of the stadium, $40 in the tailgate lot on the north. Rent a car.
 


Unregistered User said:
Bet like a whale and the casinos will comp you a limo.

Also, I'm pretty sure this is one of the limos owned by my buddy's buddy. VIP room in the back. And I believe he has another one with a hot tub on the back and a stripper pole inside.

bigbluevalleyoffire2a.jpg
Click to expand...

You liar. That's my car, and it isn't a VIP room in the back - it's a fish pond. I bobber fish for sunnies back there while my wife drives, but you could also cast for bass or fly fish for trout; it's modular.
 

I've been entertaining a zany plan to go it alone and fly in and out that day. I assumed it would be reasonably possible to get to and from the stadium in a cab. Now that doesn't appear to be true. Oh well, I will just watch from home.
 

Actually, there is a bus that runs right to the stadium on event days (like football games) -- I took it last year for the UNLV/Hawaii game. It is Route 602, and it picks you up right in front of the Tropicana. I think it cost $7. You can find out the info at http://www.rtcsnv.com/transit/route/601/601(05-20-12).pdf -- the info is on the second page.
 

It's not that far from the strip -10 miles and if you bring your skates the rink is down the street from the Stadium. Skate and buy a Coors Light from the snack stand in the rink.
 



You can walk to the stadium from the Hard Rock Casino. That's where I'm staying.
Park valet at the Hard Rock.
 


PurplePride said:
You can walk to the stadium from the Hard Rock Casino. That's where I'm staying.
Park valet at the Hard Rock.
Click to expand...

You're thinking of the Thomas & Mack Arena, which is across the street. You will be sadly mistaken that day if you try to see the game in a basketball arena. Rethink your plan.
 

If you take one of the RTC modes of transportation, I would HIGHLY recommend taking the BRT, Bus Rapid Transit. They are relatively newer vehicles, much nicer than the various forms of bus; designed to look and feel like the Light Rail in MSP.

They stop at fewer stops, travel mostly in BRT-designated lanes, and travel a lot faster. They might only get as close as the intersection of Russell Rd and Boulder Highway, but that's just a few blocks from the stadium. Who knows, on game days, there could be a route that goes right to the front door.

Then again, you can usually get a car rental in Vegas for like $20-$25/day, leaving you free to run down to the Dam, whatever else you want to try.

Plenty of options. Check out the routes at:

http://www.rtcsnv.com/transit/route/
 



Thank you for the info on the bus from the strip, Fabian.

I think it is very likely I will start drinking at some point in the late afternoon, so I am going to rule out the rental car. I'll see if I can work a limo deal, or ride the LV transit system bus.

Maybe if enough Gopher fans are at one hotel, there might be some sort of option through the Hotel. I'll keep looking for that possibility.

A cab ride with a crap shoot on the return trip will be the last option.
 

Fabian said:
Actually, there is a bus that runs right to the stadium on event days (like football games) -- I took it last year for the UNLV/Hawaii game. It is Route 602, and it picks you up right in front of the Tropicana. I think it cost $7. You can find out the info at http://www.rtcsnv.com/transit/route/601/601(05-20-12).pdf -- the info is on the second page.
Click to expand...

I think that Fabian probably has the best idea. The eastbound Tropicana bus will also get you there. The route (201) also runs late so there will an opportunity to catch it after the game. http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/transit/route/201/201(05-20-12).pdf
 

When we were at the UNLV/Hawaii game, they had official looking folks with vests and handsets coordinating buses, although we got stuck waiting for about 20 minutes because we missed one and the other was stuck in traffic. Still, we got home (hotel) easily enough.

The other thing to know -- Sam Boyd not only serves beer, but hard liquor as well. Probably even wine, although I was not interested enough to verify. Somehow, they are able to keep it away from students enough so it isn't a hooligan riot -- maybe TCF can get some pointers.
 

I agree with those who say it's easy to get to the Stadium, but not so easy to leave.

A bunch of us were able to solve the problem by contacting ODS Limos (1-800-245-9956) in Las Vegas and hiring 23 to 27 passenger buses to get us to the stadium, wait during the game, and then take us back to downtown or the strip.

Doing so enabled us to get a comfortable, reliable ride to and from Sam Boyd and, yes, they don't mind if you bring a cooler on board.

Two years ago, the price of a 27 passenger bus ( nicely appointed with high back chairs ) for 6 hours was $438. Add on a 20% tip, if you're so inclined, and you've got a total cost of $525 split between, say, 25 people for a total cost of about $21 per person - not bad for Las Vegas.

We found the folks at ODS to be totally reliable - the buses were right on time - and the drivers were way cool.

As to the game itself, the heat will challenge you and I would recommend 'tailgating' in the air conditioned bar of your choice just prior to the game. While beer and alcohol are sold in the Stadium, Sam Boyd always appears to be under-staffed and you will feel like you're in a sauna while waiting in line underneath the Stadium.

I've tailgated twice at that Stadium - once in the parking lot, and another time in their dedicated tailgate area on a grassy area just North of the Stadium and it will be extremely important that you find a way to bring some shade with you.

The good news is that things will cool off when the sun goes down sometime in the 2nd quarter.
 

dctrc said:
The good news is that things will cool off when the sun goes down sometime in the 2nd quarter.
Click to expand...

Not according to Tully55 from the UNLV Blog Thread. The environment will be hot:

"Tully55
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The environment will be a factor. Even after sundown, the temps will be in the 90's and fluid loss is always a factor. Players and staff must be careful to drink plenty of liquids."
 

dctrc said:
I agree with those who say it's easy to get to the Stadium, but not so easy to leave.

A bunch of us were able to solve the problem by contacting ODS Limos (1-800-245-9956) in Las Vegas and hiring 23 to 27 passenger buses to get us to the stadium, wait during the game, and then take us back to downtown or the strip.

Doing so enabled us to get a comfortable, reliable ride to and from Sam Boyd and, yes, they don't mind if you bring a cooler on board.

Two years ago, the price of a 27 passenger bus ( nicely appointed with high back chairs ) for 6 hours was $438. Add on a 20% tip, if you're so inclined, and you've got a total cost of $525 split between, say, 25 people for a total cost of about $21 per person - not bad for Las Vegas.

We found the folks at ODS to be totally reliable - the buses were right on time - and the drivers were way cool.

As to the game itself, the heat will challenge you and I would recommend 'tailgating' in the air conditioned bar of your choice just prior to the game. While beer and alcohol are sold in the Stadium, Sam Boyd always appears to be under-staffed and you will feel like you're in a sauna while waiting in line underneath the Stadium.

I've tailgated twice at that Stadium - once in the parking lot, and another time in their dedicated tailgate area on a grassy area just North of the Stadium and it will be extremely important that you find a way to bring some shade with you.

The good news is that things will cool off when the sun goes down sometime in the 2nd quarter.
Click to expand...

Call the Sapphire Club. They will send you a free limo with a few lady friends and bring you right to the club. You can figure out what to do from there, and said lady friends usually have a thing or two in mind.
 

Bryce Webster said:
Call the Sapphire Club. They will send you a free limo with a few lady friends and bring you right to the club. You can figure out what to do from there, and said lady friends usually have a thing or two in mind.
Click to expand...

Voice of experience? :)
 


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