The phased $1.4 billion redevelopment of the Las Vegas Convention Center District reached another milestone last November with the selection of tvsdesign/Design Las Vegas to create an “iconic” design for the venue’s 1.4 million-square-foot expansion. Targeting completion by late 2020, in advance of CES 2021, this second phase of the four-phase project, which broke ground last month, adds at least 600,000 square feet of new leasable exhibit space.
November 2017 also saw groundbreaking on the $1.9 billion, 65,000-seat domed Las Vegas Stadium. Targeting a summer 2020 opening, the multiuse venue is the new home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and UNLV football.
Caesars Entertainment is flourishing with post-restructuring investments. Components of a master plan to develop nearly 50 acres of Center Strip land include last June’s debut of the 48,000-square-foot, multimillion-dollar Caesars Entertainment Studios, North America’s largest soundstage.
Groundbreaking is expected early in the second quarter of 2018 on Caesars Forum, a new $375 million conference center with direct access to 8,500-plus hotel rooms at Harrah's Las Vegas, The LINQ and Flamingo Las Vegas, plus the LINQ Promenade. Targeting a 2020 opening, the venue will offer 300,000 square feet of flexible space, including North America’s two largest pillarless ballrooms, at 108,000 square feet each, and a flexible 100,000-square-foot outdoor plaza.
Flamingo Las Vegas completed the $6.8 million refurbishment of its 73,000-square-foot meeting space last June. The phased $90 million comprehensive renovation of all 1,270 guest rooms is slated for completion this April.
Caesars’ exuberance includes Fly LINQ, the Strip’s first zipline experience. Slated for a late 2018 debut, the $20 million, 10-person attraction will zip participants on a 35-second, 35 mph ride 12 stories above The LINQ Promenade.
Last June, MGM Resorts International broke ground on a 250,000-square-foot addition to the MGM Grand Conference Center. Scheduled for completion by late 2018, the new $130 million space, seamlessly connecting to the existing center on all three levels, will include a 49,000-square-foot ballroom and 5,500-square-foot outdoor courtyard.
Slated for completion this month, the $160 million transformation of the former Zarkana theater at ARIA Resort & Casino creates 200,000 square feet of new convention space on four levels, including a 2,000-capacity top-floor ballroom with multiuse outdoor deck overlooking The Park.
Targeting completion by late 2018, the $450 million makeover of the Monte Carlo Las Vegas Resort and Casino will create the upscale 2,700-room Park MGM and 292-room NoMad Las Vegas. Also opening will be the 77,000-square-foot Executive Meeting Center, featuring Ideation Labs, maximizing productivity for small groups.
Last summer, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas launched the $100 million-plus renovation of 2,895 of the twin-tower resort’s 3,027 rooms. Targeting full completion by December 2018, the project follows last year’s transformation of 21 Boulevard Tower spaces into luxurious penthouses.
Last November, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation and Madison Square Garden Company announced a multiparty partnership to create the world’s largest music and entertainment venue. An official opening date has yet to be released.
Construction began last month on the $1.6 billion redevelopment of the Wynn Las Vegas golf course into Paradise Park. Slated for 2020, Steve Wynn’s visionary project includes a new 47-story, 1,500-room hotel, an hourglass-shaped lagoon surrounded by a mile-long boardwalk, interactive rides, entertainment and dining venues, and convention space. In December 2017, Wynn Resorts purchased the 34-acre former New Frontier site, plus four additional acres. Facing Wynn Las Vegas, the parcel was previously slated for development as Alon Las Vegas.
Targeting a 2020 opening, pre-construction proceeds on the adjacent $4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas. Across the street, the unfinished 3,815-room Fontainebleau Las Vegas, sold last fall, is now Project Blue, development status pending.
Last December, Penn National Gaming Inc., owner of Tropicana Las Vegas and M Resort Spa Casino, announced its $2.8 billion purchase of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. The deal elevates the Pennsylvania-based company to third-largest casino operator in the U.S., with 41 casinos in 20 jurisdictions.
Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa replaced its casino floor with Jake & Eli, an industrial-inspired restaurant centered around American bourbon and featuring a mix of comfort food and cocktails. The hotel has also updated 826 guest rooms, added four new meeting rooms and redesigned its lobby level.
Opened in December 2016, the 203-room Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino Las Vegas last month announced the “temporary” closure of gaming and casino restaurant operations ahead of a “process of repositioning.”
Last November, Station Casinos announced $485 million in sweeping improvements for its off-Strip Palms Casino Resort, including 282 redesigned Fantasy Tower rooms, new restaurants and its 29,000-square-foot nightclub. The company is also investing $76 million in improvements at off-Strip Palace Station Hotel & Casino, slated to debut at the end of 2018.