Following complaints from concertgoers who attended the first major events with large crowds at Allegiant Stadium, officials are working to address those issues in time for this weekend’s Concacaf Gold Cup final 2021.
The sold-out soccer event on Sunday will feature a match between United States and Mexico, and tens of thousands of fans should have a better experience traveling to and from the stadium.
Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft stated that numerous meetings have taken place between area stakeholders since the Garth Brooks concert earlier in July to address the necessary changes ahead of Sunday.
The emphasis was on public safety, particularly for those crossing the Hacienda Avenue Bridge to and from the Las Vegas Strip. On July 10, the date of the Brooks concert, Las Vegas matched its all-time high temperature of 117 degrees, and both staff and event attendees reported heat-related issues.
Although it won’t be nearly as hot on Sunday, with temperatures expected to hover around 105 degrees, there will be more places for fans to cool off.
“There were issues that emanated from the heat that day, but of course it’s going to be hot a couple months out of the year, so that’s something we always have to plan for at that venue,” Naft said. “An increase of water stations, an increase in shade structures, those are all going to be implemented.”
Employees will also be given umbrellas to help mitigate the effects of the heat, and more personnel will be on hand to handle traffic control.
The lack of wayfinding signage was a major complaint from those who drove or took a taxicab or ride hailing service to the Brooks concert. This was especially difficult because on event days, some two-way streets around the stadium are converted to one-way streets.
“Much more significant signage will be on site helping direct people to the right places,” Naft said. “That’s something we know that could have been done better at the first two events and something I think will be noticeable.”
Michael Naft
Naft also advised taxi and ride hailing drivers to familiarize themselves with the area ahead of time in order to have a better idea of where they are going.
There will also be more assistance for event-goers with disabilities, which Naft has received several requests for.
“There will be more opportunities for people to take rides across the Hacienda bridge on golf carts,” Naft noted. “There will be a better ADA dropoff area, closer to the stadium and marked better so people with any mobility issues know where to go.”
Michael Naft
When attendees enter the venue on Sunday, they will be required to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth when not actively eating or drinking, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Despite the fact that the regulation goes back into effect on Friday, just two days before the event, Naft said he doesn’t expect it to be a problem.
“That will be on the stadium operator,” Naft said. “It’ll certainly be the biggest event where masks are required that we’ve had. You’ll also see the work that they’ve done with the health district to make sure signage is posted and to make sure they’re enforcing that from a licensee perspective. All over the world people are having fun and pleasant game day and event experiences while wearing a mask, so I don’t think it’s going to negatively impact the way people experience the event.”