From the beginning, parking on the Las Vegas Strip has been free (excluding valets). In fact, "acres of free parking" was one of the selling points.

But now, eighty-five years of tradition is coming to an end. 

MGM Resorts has announced that with opening of the T-Mobile Arena (behind New York, New York), they will begin charging for parking. Sometime in early Spring (between April and June), the policy will go into effect. MGM Restorts will build a $54 million, 3,000 space parking garage next to the new arena that seats 20,000 people and includes retail and restaurant spaces and a 5,000 seat theater at the Monte Carlo.

The parking fee is part of MGM Resorts plan to enhance and expand their infrastructure. They own nine Strip properties.

• Mandalay Bay
• Delano
• Luxor
• Excalibur
• Monte Carlo
• New York-New York
• Vdara
• Aria
• Bellagio
• The Mirage
• MGM Grand

Parking at Crystals, Mandalay Bay Place and Circus Circus will remain free.

Parking will be $10.00 a day (even for guests staying at the hotels)  with a grace period for locals to adjust and eveyone can join the M life (the MGM loyalty program) which would waive the parking fees.

The big question, of course, is will other resorts follow suit and charge for parking?

Will tourists balk at paying for parking while a guest of the hotel? Will they balk at the increased cost of the valet?

Will locals find yet another reason not to visit the Strip?

Stay tuned as it looks like this new policy could be the first signal that the days of  acres and acres of free parking on the Strip are coming to an end.