The crowds are definitely larger than 5 years ago, but it’s not the crowd that bothers me. The almost naked people are back as are the sleeping homeless people. Lots of panhandlers with signs. The defined performance circles are largely ignored. Perhaps the most disturbing thing I saw was three young children sitting on the ground at 10PM making and selling bracelets.
Several years ago the powers that be tried to limit the tackiness, but it looks like they have surrendered.
" The almost naked people are back as are the sleeping homeless people. "
I don't think they were ever gone.
As you say the Performance circles that Fremont Street brought in in 2015 helped in some ways.
There are only 38 circles so it limits them somewhat.
What I did not realize at first was that they are only in efFect from 3 pm until 1 am so if you see people before or after that are not in circles....that is why.
https://vegasexperience.com/downtown-insider/fremont-street-performers-can-register-online-or-in-person/
I hate seeing animals or children invovled in this too.
I REALLY wish they could stop that.
I still enjoy Fremont street though...and stay downtown every trip.
I haven't seen the karaoke-machine bums recently. I think they may have cracked down on those. Good thing. You can look the other way from the fat, naked people....but you cant unhear a tweaker singing Jingle Bell Rock.
Freemont Street went downhill quickly after that "performer" appeared dressed as a dancing penis. 
Originally posted by: jphelan
Freemont Street went downhill quickly after that "performer" appeared dressed as a dancing penis.
THAT is one of our members.
It's Ok to be an icon in the FSE,IMO.
Yeah,people stroked him. On camera.
We started staying downtown in about 1998. Binion's was still owned by the family, and you could get a room at GN for under $30 weeknights and their "Private Arrangements" program gave us a free night with every 3 or 4 paid. Nowadays, Binion's has 6:5 BJ, GN's resort fee alone is over $32, and beggars occupy the designated "circles" on the street. Sad, sad, sad.
I don’t stay there for scenery. Don’t look. I go for free rooms good video poker and decent food. Find any of first two on strip. Payback on slots about 4% more. Vp is full pay except for duces I can ignore the points you mention
Very sad. Most people are sadden by seeing this while they are trying to enjoy thier vacations.
The worse part is that it is harder and harder to win anything. Staying Downtown seemed to give us a chance to play for a while. That doesn't happen much anymore. Very happy that Golden Nugget has stationed a security person by the elavators to the rooms.
I've got some points to add to this fine topic which I can only fully agree with all writers above. First of all, I noticed that with this zip-line thing the attraction level for party animals has gone up quite a bit and real gamblers are getting rare. People probably think that they spend their money nonetheless, and before gambling it off they rather drink it away or spend it on stupid kind of entertainment. By that I am referring to these pan-handlers and so-called entertainers that bring their artwork to show and perform in any given way they are good at. Since there is also the situation of several band battles, the whole scenery is something to avoid. The only time to go there, in my opinion, that's daily from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. or so. That's enough time to play off the coupons and collect the free play. In the evening hours you might get lost among all these beggars and con people and so-called entertainers and in the middle of the noise. No wonder the casinos there had to tigthen up. They try to catch up the money lost by charging the gamblers more and not creating better incentives to them. Even the "food offers" advertised here and there all around downtown are a joke these days. Compared to Station Casinos and some properties on Boulder Highway for instance, Downtown has not much left to offer that's interesting to visit. I would name the pool deck of the Grand, which is definetely a great thing. Since they don't check for the room key, you must be careful about your belongings as you can never be sure that there are just tourists and fun seekers on deck....
Once you're inside any caisno, the situation is more or less ok. Mainstreet Station is great, the California, and of course...El Cortez. The latter knows how to treat returning customers. 4 Queens and Fremont is lost because of the terrible location and too many drunk party aninmals inside. I feel sorry for all the gaming floor staff at the D or Golden Gate. I wonder how come this noise level can be legal by the Gaming Commission. Every normal human being will have ear damage after 1 year or longer working swing shift, that's for sure.
My place to play is the Goldcoast or any Station or Fiesta Casino. They know how to do it...The Downtown casinos will no longer get my money.
Best regards from Switzerland
Boris
I've been coming to Vegas a long time, and we always start our Vegas trips with either 1 or 2 nighs at The D or Downtown Grand, before moving to the strip. We are in our 30's which may shape our opinion differently, but I certainly do not mind the variation of tourists that Freemont attracts. Actually, it adds to the fun people watching factor, especially after a few cocktails.
I also don't mind the "performers?" in the circles...if someone wants to make an ass out of themselves for my entertainment, then let it be.
I do, however, loathe the panhandling, sleeping homeless people that line Freemont. (**This is totally unrelated to my personal feelings that the poorest members of our society definitely need our help in many ways. They are human beings afterall. HOWEVER, this isn't the place.)
The city needs to control this a bit more for the betterment of the area. That being said, we still start our trip on Freemont, basically because we love hanging out at The D, and bouncing around Freemont.
