Wynn/Encore Las Vegas Officially End Free Self-Parking Because of Sphere

Wynn/Encore Las Vegas officially ends free self-parking due to Sphere

Wynn Resorts, owner and operator of Wynn Resorts and Encore Las Vegas, announced on Friday the end of free self-parking services effective September 27, 2023 .

We are two days away from the opening of the MSG Sphere behind the Venetian Hotel. This is no coincidence. When this very large concert venue opens with U2's first show in Las Vegas, it will accommodate 18,600 spectators but only provide them with 304 parking spaces.

That's not a typo. Nearly every Sphere ticket holder must find a parking space at another casino resort or fashion show mall, or not drive there at all.

Due to its proximity to the Venetian/Palace, which discontinued free self-parking in July, Wynn Resorts was forced to take action. Without self-parking fees, thousands of frugal Venetian/Palace hotel guests would park for free in Wynn/Encore hotel parking lots, displacing paying guests.

A press release from Wynn blamed "nearby attractions" for the policy change. But that's because Las Vegas resorts don't promote competing attractions in their own press releases.

How many?

Wynn and Encore charge a flat $20 self-parking fee for guests who are not at the resort. Parking is free for the first four hours. That's generous, as other Las Vegas Strip resorts typically give guests one free hour (or three hours if they're on-site).

Parking lots at Wynn and Encore remain free and open to all registered guests of the hotel and Wynn Poker Room, as well as Chairman, Platinum and Black Level members of the Wynn Rewards program.

Valet parking remains $40 per person per day.

Another way to imagine this development is the return of paid parking at Wynn Resorts. The first incident involving this concept occurred in 2017. But two years later it reversed that decision and appeared heroic.

There will be no heroics this time.

Final Five

That leaves just Tropicana, Treasure Island, Circus Circus, Casino Royale and Sahara, all of which offer free parking - although Tropicana already charges for some of the better spots.

Casino Royale probably won't stay on this list for long, as plans are underway to replace it with a 699-foot-tall tower.

Free self-parking continues to be available at Fashion Show Mall, Mandalay Palace Mall and Aria’s Shops at Crystals.

At least until now.