Considering Vegas thumbs its nose at rules and restrictions, why would it not be appropriate?

What a bunch of mendacious BS comments. We are all high-minded philosophers who would never mix our high falutin' ideals with a sin city like Las Vegas. No sir reebop! We want to hold our conventions in a beautiful lodge with a forest view that no one will attend. Vegas is the attraction that brings in the undecided. The lure of big shows, gambling, neon wonders and volcanos that explode on cue couldn't possibly be the reason that it is a good place to convene. Gimme a break! (Besides, the price is right.)

The largest publicly-owned shooting range in the US is in Clark County.. (Las Vegas). It's a great place for a Freedom Fest.

I would suggest that gaming is not a microcosm of an economy in that it is not a value for value exchange. I'm speaking here of the game itself...that is of itself necessarily a zero sum proposition. It could be argued that access to the game with the attendant hospitality industry IS a value for value trade, so yes, I think Vegas is an acceptable venue for people who understand the difference. (For those who don't understand, it doesn't matter. Siberia would work just as well.)

Never even heard of the thing, until I saw Donald Trump's presentation on MSNBC. Really enjoyed it.

"Is Vegas an Appropriate Spot for FreedomFest?" Obviously it is. FreedomFest attracts a growing number of attendees each year (currently about 2,000), including such luminaries as Steve Forbes, Charles Murray, David Boaz, Doug Casey, Peter Thiel, John Aglialoro, George Gilder, John Mackey, Stephen Moore, John Allison, Robert Poole, Marco Rubio, John Stossel, plus the heads of the Ayn Rand Institute and the Atlas Society. Most of those attending appear to enjoy Vegas as a gathering spot for the annual event. I don't know whether such a diverse and interesting set of personalities within the "freedom movement" could be assembled elsewhere. No venue is perfect, but I've been going to FreedomFest for over 10 years and enjoy it every time.

How about Liberland?

https://liberland.org/en/about/

We generally fly into Vegas, rent a car and head out.
Zion is 2 1/2 hours north. Death Valley is 1 1/2 hours west. LonePine CA (Mount Whitney) is just outside DV to the west and Yosemite is just over the mountains.
If they would understand the potential of real tourism and the magnificent beauty surrounding them, Las Vegas as a gambling venue would lose some appeal.

I've been to (engineering) conventions in Vegas in the summer. I think is was 108 F when I was there ... Some interesting stuff on the strip, but when I got some free time I headed northeast to Valley of Fire, and then west to Red Rock Canyon. If you like more natural surroundings and/or just need a break from the hustle and bustle, give them a try.

Having lived in vegas since about 1990, I would argue that its not a zero sum game here. If a tourist brings in $1, they spend at least some of that on having a good time here in hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, etc. IF they gamble, on the average they exchange winnings and losings with fellow visitors, but the casinos get a cut no matter what. That money stays with the casinos to rebuild their properties, pay workers, etc., and a lot of that money goes to local people who work there. I read that 100 billion $$ gets left here by visitors in exchange for good experiences they have in vegas. The economy here does go round and round, and I suspect powered by the money that isnt a zero sum game.
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Vegas is awesome, or at least it used to be. Vegas is the ultimate freedom. Where else can you go and waste your money on innocuous games or beautiful women. I have done both but I have also earned a nice sum from being on the house side for a couple of years. A forest would be nice but Vegas is the reclaimed desert. I remember the first visit in 1963, we stayed at the Flamingo and there was nothing past the hedge at the edge of the swimming pool other than sand. It is built on sin, sin and more sin plus greed. No other place is fitting for freedom. Red Rock Canyon is awesome by the way, Lake Las Vegas is great also.

I would point out to the valet that the economy is far from zero-sum, that the services offered in Vegas make everyone who goes there better off in some way, even if they wind up losing a little money while they're having fun. And not everyone has to approve of gambling for that to hold true.

If you consider the customers of gambling venues to be "suckers," you are simply prejudiced, and against part of capitalism at that. Any adult who gambles knows that, on average, he is going to lose money. It's not a secret. If you don't have enough fun doing it to make your losses worthwhile, then do something else.

I love Vegas, especially the shows and a general "live and let live" attitude.

You're not likely to get informed opinion (or positive press) from a place where the unsaid mantra is: "It is morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money" (slogan borrowed from Murphy the Optimist).

Vegas is a cheap place to hold such meetings because the gaming "industry" wants to bring in as many suckers as possible.
The ONLY reason to hold ANYTHING in Vegas (other than gambling or sidewalk egg frying) is the price of the venue.
That is a legitimate reason, but I think Vegas is a $#!+-hole (after the first visit for curiosity's sake.)
Reno is another similar venue. It lacks the has-been shows of Vegas, but offers better climate (in summer) and nearby Lake Tahoe. Niagra Falls,NY is an eastern venue with such lower costs and nearby tourist attraction.

With some leg work by organisers, economical, excellent, alternate sites can be found in many cities, just not in the premier hotel locations of the city.