Official "Viva Las Vegas!!" Thread - Trip Plans, Ticket Qs, Tailgating, Casino Advice

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MNfootballfan said:
Easy to say, for some it isn't an option to "work it out." I am a high school football coach and aligned our first game to be on the Thursday night so I could fly out to Vegas and watch the game. Now that the game is Thursday there is no possible way.

I am not complaining. I understand for 98% of the people (including the Gopher football program) the Thursday game is a better option. While it sucks for me, it gives the Gophers 2 extra days to prepare for their week 2 opponent, a possible National TV game, and probably a couple of other perks.
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I realize this is disappointing to some--you are a perfect example of how the change has put things out of your control.

My comment was aimed at the crowd that has to shift their reservation, not cancel their plans. There is plenty of time to adjust.

Good luck.
 


popeyoung5 said:
Will the Gopher ticket dept. have these tickets for sale?
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They should have a visitor allotment of some size. Varies depending on the opponent usually. I think they've gone on sale in May or June the last couple of seasons (can't recall when I've been buying them).
 

So wondering if season ticket holders will be offered tickets. Although its not like UNLV sells out their games.
 

Parski1 said:
So wondering if season ticket holders will be offered tickets. Although its not like UNLV sells out their games.
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Typically, STH get to buy away game tickets in advance of the general public.
 


I know UNLV has made You buy a three game package with this marquee game in the past.
 

popeyoung5 said:
I know UNLV has made You buy a three game package with this marquee game in the past.
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I would strongly recommend not buying a 3 game package. Having been a UNLV football season ticket holder for 10 years I am 99.9% sure that tickets will not be a problem. But the team might be better. I have a football player in class this semester (no eligibility left) who told me that the coordinators were in over their heads. Ten days later this is in the paper http://www.lvrj.com/sports/unlv-football-shuffles-coaching-deck-138911079.html The former player was excited and said that these 2 guys are the exact people who should be the coordinators. He was impressed with the coaching move and believes that UNLV improve greatly with these two in their new positions.
 

2-10 (1-6 MWC) UNLV averaged 21,000 a game in 37,000 seat Sam Boyd Stadium. High crowd 26,000 for Boise State. Tickets will not be a problem for a Thursday night game before Labor Day.
 

Still don't understand the people saying that it isn't a bit deal and to just deal with it. I made plans to visit my uncle in Denver on the way down but only have so much vacation. Now one of the 2 is scrapped. Also, most people could afford a Thurs night through Monday trip (or even Fri-Mon) without taking a single vacation day. Now people will have to take minimum 2 to see them play.

The reality is they didn't schedule the game on Thursday to be as or more convenient for visiting fans. That's a non-factor for them (being the athl dept and UNLV). UNLV isn't going to get many students (or fans in general) since they won't be moved in by Saturday anyway. Most of the people who would have traveled for Sat game will probably still do it for Thursday. They did it for higher exposure and better TV ratings. Which is fine, I guess. But don't act like it doesn't inconvenience people.
 



We are actually making a 2 week motorcycle trip out of it. We had to adjust our departure date causing me to miss my H.S. class reunion, but oh well...once in a lifetime great ride through the Mountians and such....should be a blast.
 

RailBaronYarr said:
Still don't understand the people saying that it isn't a bit deal and to just deal with it. I made plans to visit my uncle in Denver on the way down but only have so much vacation. Now one of the 2 is scrapped. Also, most people could afford a Thurs night through Monday trip (or even Fri-Mon) without taking a single vacation day. Now people will have to take minimum 2 to see them play.

The reality is they didn't schedule the game on Thursday to be as or more convenient for visiting fans. That's a non-factor for them (being the athl dept and UNLV). UNLV isn't going to get many students (or fans in general) since they won't be moved in by Saturday anyway. Most of the people who would have traveled for Sat game will probably still do it for Thursday. They did it for higher exposure and better TV ratings. Which is fine, I guess. But don't act like it doesn't inconvenience people.
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They don't schedule games for visiting fans. They schedule games for home fans.
 

highwayman said:
They don't schedule games for visiting fans. They schedule games for home fans.
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Usually the case, but not UNLV football. IMHO the home crowd will be the same size whether its played on Sat or Thus. This is their best chance to make some $ on a home game and they believe that more visitors will be there on Thursday night.
 

denguegopher said:
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Usually the case, but not UNLV football. IMHO the home crowd will be the same size whether its played on Sat or Thus. This is their best chance to make some $ on a home game and they believe that more visitors will be there on Thursday night.
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I'll agree with you on that. I will willingly give up my dough to the UNLV coffers.

My original comment meant that as visiting fans we should just "roll with it". All the complaining in the world won't change what UNLV does with this game. But it is "what we do" in Minnesota.
 




RailBaronYarr said:
Still don't understand the people saying that it isn't a bit deal and to just deal with it. I made plans to visit my uncle in Denver on the way down but only have so much vacation. Now one of the 2 is scrapped. Also, most people could afford a Thurs night through Monday trip (or even Fri-Mon) without taking a single vacation day. Now people will have to take minimum 2 to see them play.

The reality is they didn't schedule the game on Thursday to be as or more convenient for visiting fans. That's a non-factor for them (being the athl dept and UNLV). UNLV isn't going to get many students (or fans in general) since they won't be moved in by Saturday anyway. Most of the people who would have traveled for Sat game will probably still do it for Thursday. They did it for higher exposure and better TV ratings. Which is fine, I guess. But don't act like it doesn't inconvenience people.
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And while this does suck, this is a better move for the team. Is the dept really supposed to take a worse deal for the team to avoid inconveniencing some fans?
 

With the game on Thursday, what channel would it be on?
 

zambam said:
With the game on Thursday, what channel would it be on?
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No one knows yet. In the past UNLV Thurs games were on Versus (now NBC Sports) but I'm not sure if the Mountain West still has that contract or not. Wouldn't bet on ESPN or ESPN2 though.
 

I would guess almost certainly it'll be NBC Sports, I haven't seen anything indicating that contract is gone. Also, I'd expect if you don't have them as a station currently they'll be added to your package as it sounds like NBCSN will be carrying up to 8 NFL games next season, meaning there'll be a lot of pressure on providers to add them to the ESPN tier.
 

It should be on NBC sports, but the Mountain West Conference does have its own, lesser known conference network, the Mountain, and if they really wanted to publicity/ popularity, I could see them putting it on that channel.


But I agree most likely NBC Sports
 

Gopher07 said:
I would guess almost certainly it'll be NBC Sports, I haven't seen anything indicating that contract is gone. Also, I'd expect if you don't have them as a station currently they'll be added to your package as it sounds like NBCSN will be carrying up to 8 NFL games next season, meaning there'll be a lot of pressure on providers to add them to the ESPN tier.
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That is not correct at all. The NFL Network will be carrying those games also. NFL Network will starting carrying football in week 2 to week 17. NBCSN will not be showing NFL Football.
 

gophersfan said:
That is not correct at all. The NFL Network will be carrying those games also. NFL Network will starting carrying football in week 2 to week 17. NBCSN will not be showing NFL Football.
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Oops, guess you're right. Not sure where I read that or misinterpreted it the first time. Oh well. I actually like what NBC Sports has done and wouldn't mind it being available in more homes as an alternative to ESPN.
 

RailBaronYarr said:
Still don't understand the people saying that it isn't a bit deal and to just deal with it. I made plans to visit my uncle in Denver on the way down but only have so much vacation. Now one of the 2 is scrapped. Also, most people could afford a Thurs night through Monday trip (or even Fri-Mon) without taking a single vacation day. Now people will have to take minimum 2 to see them play.

The reality is they didn't schedule the game on Thursday to be as or more convenient for visiting fans. That's a non-factor for them (being the athl dept and UNLV). UNLV isn't going to get many students (or fans in general) since they won't be moved in by Saturday anyway. Most of the people who would have traveled for Sat game will probably still do it for Thursday. They did it for higher exposure and better TV ratings. Which is fine, I guess. But don't act like it doesn't inconvenience people.
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Please explain to me how someone could go Thursday Night - Monday without taking a single vacation day? Since when did the Friday of Labor Day weekend become a holiday? Also, this is NOT a big deal. It is February. The date change was always a possibility. IMO booking more than 6 months in advance is jumping the gun.

Also, if you cannot manage the vacation days, that is your choice as to when you take them and what you choose to use them on. Which is totally an individual choice and everybody has the right to spend their vacation days the way they want. I just do not like people complaining about having to use an extra day to go to Vegas to watch a football game. It is your choice, use them however you want. IMO, a Thursday night game is the BEST possible scenario for those travelling to Vegas and to those hoping to catch the game on TV.
 

UNLV gametime and TV

I bumped into a guy I know in the UNLV athletic dept this evening. He said that it looks like a 5:00 pm local start and they are still looking for a network, but it appears that it will be CBS Sports Network.
 

denguegopher said:
I bumped into a guy I know in the UNLV athletic dept this evening. He said that it looks like a 5:00 pm local start and they are still looking for a network, but it appears that it will be CBS Sports Network.
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Nice compromise. That's a 7:00 pm Central start for a Gopher night game rather then a 9:00 one.
 


Stan The Caddy said:
Please explain to me how someone could go Thursday Night - Monday without taking a single vacation day? Since when did the Friday of Labor Day weekend become a holiday? Also, this is NOT a big deal. It is February. The date change was always a possibility. IMO booking more than 6 months in advance is jumping the gun.

Also, if you cannot manage the vacation days, that is your choice as to when you take them and what you choose to use them on. Which is totally an individual choice and everybody has the right to spend their vacation days the way they want. I just do not like people complaining about having to use an extra day to go to Vegas to watch a football game. It is your choice, use them however you want. IMO, a Thursday night game is the BEST possible scenario for those travelling to Vegas and to those hoping to catch the game on TV.
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I misspoke as I was typing. I meant to say Friday-Monday. I did Thursday-Monday 6 months ago and only had to take 1 day but was trying to show that F-S/M requires 0 vacation days. I understand taking personal vacation time when and where you want is a personal choice, and I also conceded that I recognize there are bigger factors at play than the ~5,000 MN fans that MAY travel to the game and that the athletic dept didn't make a bad choice, just one that inconvenienced the fewest people.

However, as I said, I DO have limited vacation time. Most people do. Trying to figure out when you and your wife (and we don't even have kids) can BOTH take time off for a major vacation does need to be done well in advance due to both work and personal schedules. Especially if you're trying to coordinate schedules with visiting people along the way.

I completely disagree that Thursday is BETTER for people traveling to Vegas compared to a Saturday game. Again, a 5PM local start time means leaving Mpls No later than noon on Thursday to get in to town, get a car (if they're going to the game), check in, and make it to the stadium in time to see everything. That's minimum 1.5 days vacation. A Saturday game could be seen without taking a single hour of vacation. I don't see how Saturday is any less ideal for being able to watch the game on TV, either. I am under the assumption that most people have Saturday off, and that the game would be televised by an ESPN affiliate or BTN. The Thursday game might attract more casual viewers simply because it will be one of the few games on TV that night but that doesn't make it any more convenient to watch - guaranteed anyone who wants to see them play WILL see them play on Saturday, too.

And in the end, isn't it my damn right to have a preference for a Saturday game rather that Thursday and express it here on the message boards?
 

RailBaronYarr said:
I am under the assumption that most people have Saturday off, and that the game would be televised by an ESPN affiliate or BTN. The Thursday game might attract more casual viewers simply because it will be one of the few games on TV that night but that doesn't make it any more convenient to watch - guaranteed anyone who wants to see them play WILL see them play on Saturday, too.
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You know that old saying about assuming? :)

BTN has never been in play. They can only televise B1G home games. ESPN may have been a possibility, but again, the Mountain West has different TV deals that don't really include ESPN prominently. It's just as likely that the game would have been on The Mtn (the Mountain West's own channel...buried in the sports tiers on most carriers) or on one of the other other primary TV partners (like NBC Sports or CBS College Sports), especially since ESPN will have plenty of content to pick from that features conference teams who are primary partners with the network.

Certainly, anyone who wanted to see them play would have found a way on Saturday but that's not the point. Instead of being one of MANY games on Saturday while prob being stuck on a niche channel the game will at least be one of a handful of games in primetime on the first night of the season (though the niche channel thing may very well still apply).
 

RailBaronYarr said:
I completely disagree that Thursday is BETTER for people traveling to Vegas compared to a Saturday game.
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Anecdotally it is supposed to be reducing plane ticket cost. Whether that's true or not I have no idea.
 

denguegopher said:
I bumped into a guy I know in the UNLV athletic dept this evening. He said that it looks like a 5:00 pm local start and they are still looking for a network, but it appears that it will be CBS Sports Network.
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That would be surprising. The average high on August 30 in Las Vegas is 100. Going back to 2003 the earliest a home game has started at UNLV in August or September is 6:00pm local time and that was on September 24, 2011 versus Utah State and August 29, 2003 versus Toledo. It is good the hear it will be Nationally Televised for those who do not go.
 

RailBaronYarr said:
I completely disagree that Thursday is BETTER for people traveling to Vegas compared to a Saturday game.

And in the end, isn't it my damn right to have a preference for a Saturday game rather that Thursday and express it here on the message boards?
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Completley disagree? Both the flights and the hotels are going to be more affordable for a Wed - Sat Vegas trip than a Fri - Monday during a Holiday Weekend. That is better for people travelling to Vegas.

It is your right to have a preference. I never said it was not. It was the whining about vacation days and the inconveinence of something that was changed 6 months in advance that I gave you a hard time about. I think most people on here have limited vacation time, family considerations, etc... Personally, I waited to make any plans until a game date was finalized.

As far as televison goes, Thursday is much better. Fewer games on, less competition from the National Networks to get your game on and let's be honest, it is going to be a night game, so for a majority of people they are not in the office on a Thursday night at 7, 8 or 9pm. Personally I would much rather watch the game on a Thursday night and spend Saturday of Labor Day weekend golfing if I am not in Vegas.
 

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