Vegas Room Rates Skyrocket Ahead of McGregor's UFC 329 Fight

^{Conor McGregor is fighting for the first time in five years, and room rates and ticket prices in Las Vegas have skyrocketed. Prices shown here, from the Cosmopolitan, do include resort fees, but don't include taxes,} 

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor returns to the UFC Octagon this weekend for the first time in five years. Demand for the fight is through the roof, and it shows up in both room rates and secondary-market ticket prices.

McGregor headlines UFC 329 against Max Holloway Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, capping off UFC International Fight Week. It's his first appearance since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021. He is listed as a consensus 2/1 betting underdog against Holloway at Vegas sportsbooks.

After Independence Day weekend, July is typically one of the softest months on the Strip for room rates. This month, rates typically average around $164 a night, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

This weekend, they're running two to three times higher than any other weekend in July.

New York-New York is the closest casino hotel to T-Mobile Arena and has no rooms available. A room at the next-closest hotel, Park MGM, is nearly $700 before taxes and fees. The same room costs $79 on Monday.

Visitors looking for a luxury option can stay at the AAA Five Diamond Award-winning Aria for $1,000 per night. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award-winning high-roller Aria Sky Suites, however, are sold out.

Rates at The Cosmopolitan are just over $1,000 this weekend. They're half the price next Friday and Saturday. The Cosmo will be a popular destination this weekend, as McGregor will be there hosting the official fight afterparty (with hip hop artist Fabolous) at Marquee Las Vegas nightclub .

But rates have jumped all across Las Vegas ahead of this fight. The cheapest room at budget-friendly Harrah's this weekend is $364. It's just $144 before fees next weekend.

The Best Western at Casino Royale is typically one of the cheapest rooms on the Strip and the only hotel there that doesn't charge a resort fee. A room this weekend is $305, compared to $98 on Monday.

There aren't any budget-friendly rooms left in Las Vegas for McGregor's return.

Room rates always jump in the days before big fights and shows. Staying on top of the monthly sports calendar is one way to plan around it and book closer to normal rates.

UFC 329 Expected to Break Records

The get-in price for UFC 329 topped $1,000 Friday, up 14% in just three days, according to ticket-tracking service TicketData.com. Prices on the secondary market are even higher. The average purchase price on TickPick is more than $1,500.

UFC 329 is on pace to have the most expensive ticket prices for any MMA event in history. If prices hold, it will generate more ticket revenue than UFC 306 at the Sphere in 2024.

UFC CEO Dana White is projecting a $25 million gate, which would break the promotion's own record.

Where to Watch the Fight (and Party After)

Strip sportsbooks won't show the fight. Plenty of sports bars inside the casinos will, though.

Most bars and restaurants showing the fight will require a minimum spend per person, typically starting around $100 on the Strip. Off-Strip properties run about half that.

UFC 329 is essentially the end of International Fight Week, save for Zuffa Boxing at The Cosmopolitan on Sunday. The official watch party is at RedTail inside Resorts World.

With Marquee nightclub at the Cosmo running the marquee afterparty event, Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World is holding an "official afterparty" hosted by Paddy Pimblett, who fights Benoit Saint-Denis on the undercard before McGregor's main event. Rapper Meek Mill will be performing.