I got up at 7, grabbed my laptop, and watched the final Formula 1 race for the season. Congratulations, Lando, on your first world championship!
I left the hotel to find some breakfast. Google Gemini had suggested Denny’s, which is in the same building as my hotel. I also had a coupon from the hotel to that diner. However, when I got to it, at about 10, there was a line, probably 50 meters long. So I left again and went back to the Linq promenade, where I knew there were a few restaurants. I found Chayo Mexican Kitchen, where I got a standard breakfast with some eggs, bacon, and toast. Pretty good start!
I got out on the strip again to take the bus a few blocks south towards the arena. It’s called Deuce, and I bought a 24-hour pass so I could use it on the way back as well. The stop closest to my hotel had a note saying the stop was cancelled due to construction. Since it was arriving any minute, two guys and I waited and hoped. We wouldn’t make it to the next stop in time anyway. And to our joy, it stopped.
On the bus, there were a bunch of people going to the game, mainly Broncos fans. We got off the bus and followed the crowd towards the Allegiant Stadium. Through a tunnel and then across a large bridge. The traffic was diverted from this area so the full width of the bridge could be used (six lanes). One lane was fenced off, and I would guess, saved for emergency vehicles.
Entry was smooth, keep your stuff in the pockets, and then just scan the ticket. Just after you scanned the ticket and got through the gate, they were selling beer out of coolers. They sure are a thirsty people.
When I got inside, I noticed they had curtains between the stands and the area behind, so you couldn’t stand and watch the game from there. I would guess to prevent people from buying cheap tickets far up (like me) and watching from a prime location on the first level.
I took a lap around, got a few comments about my Packers jersey, and fistbumped two other Packers fans. I took the escalator up to the 200-level, but couldn’t do a full lap because the suites had the area behind them reserved. At one point, I had to use the stairwell to get down one level (to the big torch), because the two escalators both went upward.
I found my seat at 442, row 3, seat 11. Beside me, there was a family of three living in the Bay Area, and we came to talk quite a bit during the game. Lovely people. Unfortunately, it was a draft where we sat. Didn’t get really cold, but a bit uncomfortable. I left my sweater at the hotel since the game was indoors (and no ice…)
During the warmup, there were large cheers when the Broncos player took the field, and actual boos when the Raiders came in. It was a majority of orange jerseys in the stands, even if it was only 10-15% full at the time.
To my happiness, they sold bottomless soda here as well, so I filled the cup several times to get some value for my money. I spoke with one guy who had been two Sweden last year. His wife had a heritage there. He enjoyed it!
A couple of notes from the game:
- During the commercial timeout, the time remaining is displayed on the screen.
- The seats here were wider than the ones on the 300-level in the American Airlines Center. Quite comfortable
- Loooots of Broncos fans. Orange everywhere in the stands. Apparently, it’s a rivalry. The Raiders moved from Oakland, and much of the fanbase is still there. Short flight from Denver makes this an easy away game for their fans (and you can make a weekend in Las Vegas). Even heard the chant “Let’s go Broncos!” several times.
- As both the Stars and the Mavericks, they have cheerleaders here as well. One even featured on the screen. Maybe Las Vegas isn’t the place to take the battle, whether cheerleaders at events are a good thing or not.
- When I talk to people, and I say I’m from Sweden, they get excited. Fun!
At halftime, I went to get some food. With six cashiers, the line moved pretty quickly. Then refilled my drink and tried to find somewhere to eat and watch the game. In the corner, there were tables behind the seats, and I found a hole I could squeeze into. Stood there almost the whole third quarter. I waited for the line to the restroom to shorten, but when the Broncos scored a TD (commercial break incoming), I went for it anyway.
The Broncos favorites, and they delivered. The Raiders made several mistakes, both offensively and defensively. The guest won fair.
I said goodbye to my new friends, walked to the Hard Rock Cafe, while watching the Packers game on the phone. I bought a magnet, and then found a large souvenir store next door, where I found a suitable mug. No, not this one either.
I got to the bus stop and waited for it to take me a few stops to the hotel. But after I waited ten minutes after it’s scheduled departure, I started to walk instead. And a couple of stops later, it caught up with me. But it was full and the people waiting at the stop couldn’t get on. So I guess the 24-hour pass was wasted, should have gone for single tickest instead.
There are quite a few intersections that don’t allow pedestrians to cross. There is usually a skybridge, so you have to go up and then down. There are often escalators, which is nice, but about a third of them didn’t work.
I got back to my room, watched the last quarter of the game (they won!), took a shower, and then started to look for some dinner. I passed by a Five Guys, but didn’t feel for burgers, so I kept walking. It turned out to be harder than expected; the places I ducked into had a waitlist, and I had a deadline.
I gave up and took an Uber to Rio Hotel & Casino. I asked the driver if he thought it would be dangerous to walk back after the show, but he didn’t think so. I would basically just cross a large bridge and then be back at the strip. I located the Penn & Teller Theater and then went to Guy Fieri’s El Burro Borracho for a quick dinner. I got the last seat at the bar (the tables had a 30-minute wait time), and then asked the bartender what I could get relatively fast. Tacos are pretty quick, he said, and I ordered some. About seven minutes later, I had my food. Excellent service!
The TV above the bar showed some rodeo. I saw a yellow flag on the ground and made a joke about “flag on the play”, since I just a few hours earlier saw the same thing at Allegiant Stadium. The guy next to me explained what it meant, and it was because of a rule violation. He explained a couple of more things about the sport, which seemed extremely dangerous.
I paid and went to the theater again to take my seat. When they scanned my ticket, they said that they wanted to give me a free upgrade. Sweet! I was moved from the mezzanine to the floor level. When I bought my ticket, there were plenty left on the floor level, so I guess they wanted to consolidate the audience and make it more intimate.
It was a great show, they sure know what they are doing and are good entertainers. You really start to wonder how they pull some of the stuff off…
When the show was over, I checked the Uber app and decided that the price was low enough to skip the walk back. While I was waiting for my car, this one rolled up:
Got back to the hotel and packed a small bag for tomorrow. I’m renting a car and going to the Hoover Dam. But first, some sleep!