2018 MATS

Anyone heard what is going on with the MATS this year? I heard rumors the Cannery Casino was sold and they are not interested in the MATS car show/concert as in past years. The MATS website still has several pages still not updated from 2017, including the day count down. Makes me wonder what is the plan for this year, only 3 months away?

http://www.matslv.com/

http://www.matslv.com/activities/cannery-concerts/

http://www.matslv.com/events/mopower-cruise/

the event has a weekend booked at the track, so that pretty much covers me.

Have not heard if Phil found another Casino/Hotel that will host us as of yet, time is running out!

Boyd gaming did buy both cannery casinos last year.
I have not heard if the mats show and concert at cannery have been cancelled. It is one of cannery's biggest events of the year so I don't think they would cancel it. That said, boyd casinos don't have much in the way of entertainment that other locals casinos do.

Well it is not at the Cannery for sure. I have been going for over 10 years now and the Cannery does not have the show on it's calendar. I always get a call before it is announced to secure my hotel room and that never happened, so I followed up.

think entry will go down some without the overhead of motel/entertainment and all involved? (that was a tongue in cheek comment )

Wow, I'm glad I saw this post, been thinking of booking at The Cannery, guess I'll wait to see what they're going to do.

well it would make most sense to me to have the party at the track...

That's just crazy talk right there

well I was going to suggest having it at your house.. but I didn't want to volunteer your services

I wont be in town Lots of room and J knows the way.

Still no announcement on the MATS website or Facebook. Wherever the evening Friday and Saturday events are held, I hope it is very similar to the Cannery. The Cannery was a near perfect venue for the evening car show on the patio and 1/4 mile of cars, concerts, and dinner options, all close to the track. Attended every year except one, enjoyed it every time with my family and friends. Sad the tradition is over, but hopeful the new location is cool.

fortunately we camp at the track, but they need to figure it out soon so others can book rooms. only 86 days left

personally I haven't been to the Cannery in years..... we usually hung out at the track watching the tumble weeds blow by! Vegas has to be the most dead track at night ANYWHERE!! ....of course I understand the whole "allure" of traveling to vegas and taking in the "experience" of downtown. So I'll be hanging out at the trailer Shiloh if you make it up that way

Well you all know I live in Vegas and stay at the track I have only been the Cannery a couple of times in all these years. Vegas definitely is the deadest racetrack at night I travel too. But that's ok with me as people are out enjoying the uniqueness of the city and it draws racers in. I don't think you will see a "party" at the MATS this year. Hopefully I am wrong and I love the idea of having it at the track. I unfortunately will not make this one, which will be the first time that either my son or I have not raced the Mars since its inception. But timing is not on our side this year. So to all you guys going have fun, enjoy the city or the track at night. It used to be a great time at the track in the early days of the MATS at night. Maybe that will return..

our "bring what ya got" cookout at your trailer was a very cool night Al.... and THAT is what I look for in a race

Jay I agree. And next year we plan to get back to the regularly scheduled party at our mobile casa next year. Not sure we can fill a 55gallon drum with beer cans every night again but that's the goal. And as usual the bar will always be open with premium quality libations for anyone interested

was just on the web site and showed the Cannery as well as other motels but no mention of a host hotel. I know a guy who's in the know, I'll ask him.

we will definitely be there this year... im thinking about jumping into the small Tire shootout.. even though I've Been Told the ET.S will be in the mid 4s.1/8 mile. at least I will be able to get in some good test passes...

think I saw that "small tire" deal was limited to 28" tire.... I would have liked to at least seen if I could make the bottom of the list

80 degrees in the desert the last couple days..... good thing I go to Vegas to cool off!

.. as far as I'm concerned I will know more after the first West Coast hot rod race.. what I will be doing.. them taking the weights away have really killed the N/A combo. Maybe I'll have to stick with the 29.10.5 and do strictly Grudge Race

Posted on the MATS Facebook page.

Mopars & MuscleCars At The Strip is a 3 Day event held each spring in Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada. The Day Time activities at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway feature an Auto Cross, Car Show, Swap Meet, Manufacturers Midway and Fast Paced Drag Racing. 2018 Event will feature some NEW Items to be named soon. The Event is all about our Passion for the American MuscleCar. Originally an all Mopar Event has now blossomed into a MuscleCar event Welcoming our fellow GM & Ford Enthusiasts as we celebrate the Evolution of People.Passion.Performance with events that will stimulate all your senses.

Night Time Entertainment will move in 2018 To the magnificent Downtown Event Center adjacent to Fremont Street Experience.

Tickets available at www.matslv.com on Social Media @matslv
Kid Friendly

This could end up better than the cannery.

I was at the events center downtown last year for the lasrageous concerts, and will be back this year. Lasrageous is April 20-21 and Mats is April 27-29, so they might be able to reuse one of the smaller stages. They also had food onsite.

It is basically a huge flat parking lot downtown that they set up stages on behind the D casino. It is also owned by the owner of the D casino. Great location, plenty of food and music downtown.

They even opened up a white castle last year.

Little bird told me that the main host hotel is the Downtown Grant Hotel. Suppose the be adjacent to Fremont Street. Suppose to be set aside parking for MATS participants at the hotel. I guess there's a Pavilions style area adjacent to the hotel. I was given a code but not sure it works yet. The group code I used was MATS2018.

And ZZ Top is in residence there during the event, saw them a couple years ago at the Hilton, it was a great show! I will probably bring my LQ trailer and stay at the track again, been a few years since it did that.

You mean the GRAND hotel, don't you, their site says $87-$109 a night...

Group rate is $89

That price probably does not include the 35.00ish a day resort fee.
The grand is now an upscale branded casino, very nice but pricy.
It used to be the lady luck and was my go to cheap place to stay until it closed. I have stayed at the lady luck at least 15 times.

It could be worth the upcharge if they have set aside parking. They have plenty of parking areas. They own the garage across the street and created new surface parking next to casino.

My only word of advice. Don't do a lot of wandering around the neighborhood late at night Having said that the same could be said about the area around the Cannery too

Al I like to call it Freakmont street. Fun but ya if you wonder you will find things that you don't want to see...

It is better than it used to be, like back when a couple street were homeless encampments. If you stick to Fremont street and don't wander to far away its ok

They say free parking with validation if you stay at the Hotel. Good price, but I think I will still stay in my LQ trailer at the track.

Also fremont area has a lot younger crowd than ever. A lot of drunken party animals especially on fremont across las vegas blvd in the bar district. I have never had a problem in over 40 visits, but I keep my eyes open anyway.

Also the fremont and main street casinos are owned by boyd gaming which bought the cannery casinos. So I would not stay there myself. I do go to tony romas at the fremont for ribs and the cheap steak and lobster special, and the main st buffet.

I still think the best meal in town is at the Four Queens, Hugo's!

Hugo's is real good.
I like pizza rock next to the downtown grand. The meatballs are killer and all different kinds of pizza.
Nothing wrong with a 48oz prime rib at jerry's nugget in north lv either.

that's why the wholesome family atmosphere of the Speedway Ramada was always a top choice

Guess you never stayed at the Barcelona on Craig near Nellis...

Craig and Nellis.... so nice there they even shut the Wal Mart down

The Speedway Ramada was on Cheyenne right off the 15. I had Chrysler training at the community college down the street in the late 90's. the motel was nothing but trash and shopping carts. They came it and shut it down and it rose from the ashes as the "Speedway Ramada"....lipstick on a pig. It's since changed to the "lucky club" (lucky if you survive?) Guess in a way you can experience the wild wild west staying here:

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/12/north-las-vegas-casino-shooting-leaves-one-dead/

Anyplace in or around Nellis AFB is sketchy as all get out, heck for that matter most all of North Las Vegas is not the place to be. J you never made it across the 15 from the Speedway Ramada or Lady Luck to make it to Tacos El Gordo, now there is a cant miss stop for sure. If you cannot find good food in Vegas you are not looking very hard. One advantage to that whole industry we have is it spawns a lot of really good eateries around town.

Half the fun of going to the track is eating at the track. Heck I spent 9 days at Norwalk and left the track once to go to tractor supply to get parts to repair my awning. Last year I took 3 pounds of cooked spaghetti, steak, pork chops, hamburger 🍔, and snacks. Then the track has a free pizza and beer night, a free Saturday night food spreed, a dollar for a pound of ice creme, and excellent food vendors

Out west if you don't bring food you will go without or are forced downtown at many tracks. They usually have the taco truck at LVMS for the MATS and the concession stand which is a ripoff for sure. Food at many tracks out here is few and far between. Having been to Norwalk NO track beats their food. Although I would put Redding a very close second. I am the guy who stays at the track even when I race over multiple days in Vegas I stay at the track rather than go home every night. Just easier. We cook plenty and will feed anyone who is hungry.

(I saw EMT's with paddles at the ready at Norwalk last summer...