LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Downtown Las Vegas Events Center has confirmed plans to convert a portion of its facility into a self-parking lot, prompting disappointment from community members and industry professionals.
Kelly Finn, who works in the live music and event industry, said she was “pretty disappointed and just sad that we’re losing another venue.”
“There aren’t that many places for us to have these events already,” Finn said. “There’s either like smaller clubs and bars, which are great and we love them, or there’s really big things that locals aren’t necessarily going to go to all the time or that don’t happen all the time. The downtown event center was a great middle ground for that.”
DLVEC provided a statement saying the conversion addresses growing parking demands in the area.
“As the neighborhood continues to grow, the demand for accessible, everyday parking has become a pressing need for locals and visitors,” the statement said. “DLVEC will continue to welcome large format events, preserving its role as a destination for standout entertainment.”
Community response
The announcement led to a petition created over the weekend that has gathered more than 5,000 signatures and dozens of comments from supporters.
“DLVEC holds so many fun memories that are all so personal to me….keep the venue where I feel our community connects a lot in,” one comment said.
Another commenter wrote: “DLVEC is the best outdoor music venue Las Vegas has…To take it away for a parking structure when downtown already has more than enough parking is heartbreaking.”
Industry impact concerns
Finn expressed concerns about the impact on Las Vegas’ entertainment landscape and job opportunities.
“There aren’t a lot of places for medium events, which I would say are like 1,000 to roughly like 2,000 people in the city with enough space and capacity for production as well,” Finn said.
She added that reducing venue options could affect the number of shows coming to Las Vegas.
“It’s very impactful because the less places we have to put on shows like this, the less shows are going to come here,” Finn said.
Community members petitioning the project believe the conversion could have broader economic effects than the events center realizes.
“I think the venue is at a really great location. I think that the shows that happen there are really fun,” one supporter said. “I think everyone who signed that petition is really hoping that they reconsider, build their parking lot somewhere else.”
No official timeline has been announced for when the parking project would begin or how much space will be converted. The events center has not responded to requests for additional details about the project.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
