Ex-NBA player Jackie Robinson was given the green light Wednesday for a massive expansion of his already-delayed arena and hotel project on the north Strip.
Robinson, who has been excavating the site but hasn’t built anything vertical, is adding a 2,000-room, 63-story hotel tower to his plans, as well as a 240,000-square-foot conference center, 24-lane bowling alley, 2,500-seat showroom and hotel wedding chapel.
Clark County commissioners on Wednesday voted 6-0 to approve his expansion. Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick was absent for the vote.
The project’s total price initially was pegged at $1.3 billion but has now more than doubled to $2.7 billion. Robinson said in an interview Wednesday that his financing is “signed, done, sealed, delivered,” and that he expects to finish construction by spring 2020.
Overall, his project has been on the drawing board for almost four years and now calls for an arena, two hotel towers, a movie theater, retail space and more.
“I’m so excited about this project getting off the ground finally,” Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, whose district includes the site, said at the hearing.
‘It’s called the numbers’
Following the expansion vote, Robinson told the Review-Journal that the excavation process would take seven to eight months, and he indicated that the project would go vertical by late spring.
He also said “100 percent of the financing is done and completed,” and he named Credit Suisse as his lender. He declined to say whether the Swiss banking giant was alone on the deal or part of a consortium but said it’s “the lead on the project.
Asked why he was plotting a sizable expansion after it took him almost three years to start heavy work following his initial county approvals, Robinson said: “It’s called the numbers. You don’t want to build something that’s not going to be successful.”
He said his group determined they needed more hotel rooms and more entertainment, and that conventions, a showroom and a boost in rooms would bring more people.
Robinson gave no indication that he was close to landing a basketball team. He said his group built its business model in a way that lets them “support the arena” without a team, but added that they would prefer to buy an NBA franchise.
Big plans, little work
His 27-acre project site is on Las Vegas Boulevard between the mothballed Fontainebleau and the SLS Las Vegas. He unveiled his plans in December 2013, saying the project would feature a 22,000-seat arena with retractable roof, a 300,000-square-foot retail and restaurant area, and a 500-room hotel.
The project, then tentatively called All Net Arena and Resort, was slated to open in December 2016, the announcement said.
Commissioners approved his plans in August 2014, and Robinson held a ceremonial groundbreaking that October. But the property largely stayed quiet – it was normal to see nobody working there – until this past March, when crews started excavation.
, just bought the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars
On the north Strip, construction of the delayed Resorts World Las Vegas is underway, with the Chinese-themed megaresort scheduled to open in 2020. Also, New York developer Steve Witkoff and Miami investment firm New Valley bought the unfinished, blue-tinted Fontainebleau hotel in late August for $600 million but didn’t say what they’d do with it.
On top of that, the Las Vegas Convention Center, not far from Robinson’s site, is earmarked for a $1.4 billion expansion and renovation.
Still, Robinson is just the latest investor to have big plans for his property.
Other ideas that have come and gone since about 2003 include the Voyager resort, which called for a 50-story tower, a marina and a 600-foot high Ferris wheel; the 142-story, 1,888-foot Crown Las Vegas resort; and the 20,000-seat Silver State Arena.
In a city that is constantly reinventing itself, it’s hard to keep up with the ever changing excitement that is Las Vegas! World-renowned food, entertainment, and nightlife make this sparkling jewel of the desert an international vacation destination. We keep up with the latest and hottest in the Las Vegas travel experiences available in 2017 and deliver to you.
Fly LINQ -Not satisfied to have the world’s tallest observation wheel, the Linq Promenade will now have Vegas’ highest zip lines. 10 side-by-side lines are going to be built along the promenade between The Linq and The Flamingo, going from The Strip to the High Roller wheel at the back of the properties. The lines will start at 122 feet high, some 50 feet higher than the zip line at SlotZilla. Now, before you go screaming “VooDoo Zipline” at the Rio at me, that’s not a traditional zip line. And the one in Boulder City is not in Vegas, obviously. So there, nyah. Anyway, it’ll be king of the zip world in Vegas when it opens in 2018… at least until Steve Wynn’s new Paradise Park hotel opens, which is expected to have zip lines as w
Those who seek an adrenaline rush during their nights out are in luck! Fly LINQ, recently announced by Caesars Entertainment, will be the Las Vegas Strip’s very first zipline. The ride will give 10 riders the chance to simultaneously fly 1,080 feet over The LINQ Promenade in either a flat or seated position. With a growing demand for short, adventurous attractions, this experience is bound to reel in guests of all ages and give them a new perspective on Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Lights Football Club
Professional soccer is coming to Las Vegas in 2018, and it’s going to be lit. The Las Vegas Lights Football Club is gearing up for their Player Combine on December 9th and 10th as part of their search for local talent. The expansion team will be making downtown’s Cashman Field their home as the 51s prepare to transition to a new baseball diamond in 2019. The stadium holds more than enough space for a soccer pitch, and there are plans to fix up seating and add amenities. This is something to look forward too!
With the start of soccer season coming up fast, sports fans are no doubt curious as to what the team’s roster is going to look like. The recent announcement of who Lights FC’s head coach is might give you a pretty good idea. José Luis Sanchez Solá, known as Chelís, is a bold breath of fresh air. He’s dedicated to picking up players from the area, looking for firepower as unique and exhilarating as Las Vegas itself. To add to the excitement, Lights FC will start the year off with matches against Major League Soccer teams in February.
Camden Cocktail Lounge at Palms
The Palms Casino Resort is continuing its massive revamp with the upcoming addition of the Camden Cocktail Lounge. The latest renovations highlight an attempt by Clique Hospitality to bring back a former love and appreciation for Vegas’ physical spaces. There’s bound to be a focus on the room’s ambiance and energy, making it all the more tempting to mingle. This will be an awesome lounge! The lounge will be moving into the space that previously housed Social and is expected to open in early 2018.
Troy Liquor Bar
Taking over the space that once was the Golden Diggers nightclub at the Golden Nugget, Troy Liquor Bar is set to open on November 24th, 2017. This spot promises a favorable DJ rotation, balcony overlooking Fremont Street, and an interior that feels positively retro. With plans to welcome guests after 9pm Thursday through Sunday, the club will even offer foosball and billiards in addition to a dancefloor.
New Esports Arena
Gamers rejoice! You will soon be able to experience the indulgence of the Las Vegas Strip while gaming! MGM Resorts International along with Allied eSports and eSports Arena are currently in the early stage of converting former mega-club LAX into a massive Esports Arena. Demolition has already started on the planned 30,00-square-foot / two- floor space inside the Luxor. The new Arena is slated to open in early 2018.
Legalization of Marijuana
Nevada’s new law legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults has Las Vegas poised to become a popular destination for the emerging industry of cannabis tourism. While the final legislative details work their way through Carson City and the newly created infrastructure readies to handle the logistics, Las Vegas and the world anxiously await the July 1st implementation of the new law.
Proponents of the law anticipate a flux of new businesses and ancillary tourism that will be beneficial to the state in the form of revenue. New innovations like the machine in the New York Post’s video, that rolls a 100 joints in five minutes, are expected to propel the new market. The law is part of a nationwide trend that has shown positive results in places like Colorado. While the results of the implementation and ultimate financial impact on the state remain to be seen, Las Vegas may pave the way for a new era in international marijuana tourism and serve as a model to other destination cities looking to do the same.
Lucky Dragon
Lucky Dragon will welcome its first guests in December 2016, making it the first newly constructed hotel and casino to open near the Las Vegas strip since the Cosmopolitan in 2010 (these five since have been remodeled). While its small compared to its neighbors (it has only 206 rooms, just above the statutory minimum), it continues the city’s burgeoning boutique trend and is designed to cater to the increasing number of Asian and Asian-American tourists.
The Dorsey
With Rock of Ages leaving the Venetian for the Rio in 2016, the resort is replacing the rock-show-themed Bourbon Room with a yet-to-be-revealed $2.5 million remodel called The Dorsey. It remains to be seen if the new lounge will retain the catwalks and dance floor of its predecessor.
GameCo Rolls Out Video-Game Gaming
In an appeal to both Gen-Xers and Millenials, casino-game designer GameCo is introducing the world’s first skill-based video game gambling machines (VGM) to Las Vegas this year. The new machines will be housed in arcade-style cabinets and use controllers familiar to those who grew up on action, sports, racing, and street fighting games.
“Classic Cher” at the Park Theater
She may be fresh off her most recent “farewell” tour, but the 70-year-old songstress isn’t ready to retire her sequined leotards any time soon. On February 8, the legendary vocalist will kick off her residency at the Monte Carlo (soon to be rebranded as the Park MGM).
The “Turn Back Time” singer promises this show will be a feast for the senses. Inspired by the unique features and state-of-the-art technology of the Park Theater, Cher’s production team chose to incorporate plenty of CGI in order to show off the theater’s custom 80-ft X 40-ft LED screen wall with 4K-quality resolution.
Cher plans to sing all of her biggest hits at the new concert, as well as make plenty of the stunning–and sometimes outlandish–costume changes that we’ve come to love about her. “Classic Cher” will run through May 25th, with more dates being added soon to the 18-show schedule.
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“Magic Mike Live” at the Hard Rock
In a town that is almost synonymous with women taking their clothes off, it’s nice to know that there is something for the ladies, too. Start collecting your BFFs and fellow bachelorettes, because the highly-anticipated “Magic Mike Live” show is coming to the Hard Rock Hotel March, 2017 and you are not going to want to miss it. The Hard Rock has carved out a very special space for the new show and converted it into a real-world version of Magic Mike XXL’s “Club Domina.” Designed as a cabaret-style nightclub, Club Domina will have three elaborate bars and a stage in the middle of the room, so that the 450 nightly guests can enjoy eye-guzzling the 13 hot male dancers from every angle imaginable.
The 2012 semi-autobiographical Channing Tatum film about the seedy, sexy world of male strippers was such a hit in theaters that it not only spawned a wildly-successful sequel (2015’s Magic Mike XXL), but also Tatum’s idea to bring the show to life as a nightly all-male revue. Tatum conceived of and directed the production, and brings along with him the franchise’s choreographer, Alison Faulk. While he will be keeping his clothes on for the most part (cue disappointed booing noises from the ladies), Tatum teases that we should “not rule out” a cameo performance here and there. The shows will be held at Club Domina inside the Hard Rock Hotel Wednesdays-Sundays at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.
CONTACT LAVISH VEGAS TODAY TO PLAN YOUR TRIP!
Backstreet Boys 2017 Las Vegas Residency
The AXIS at Planet Hollywood is home to big acts such as Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez, and come 2017 they’re about to get even larger than life with the residency that has Las Vegas buzzing. The Backstreet Boys, who is the best selling boy band in music history, will have their first performance on March 1, 2017. “Backstreet Boys: Larger than Life” will run for a total of 18 shows during a trial residency.
Read more and buy tickets here.
COURTESY OF MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Renderings, provided by the Madison Square Garden Company, of the proposed “MSG Sphere Las Vegas” arena project. The arena is a joint venture with Sands Corporation, to be built behind the Venetian and Palazzo. Its slated to open in 2020.
A new arena just off the Strip will be a 360-foot-tall sphere with seating for more than 18,000 people for concerts, awards shows and other entertainment events, according to developers Madison Square Garden Co. and Las Vegas Sands Corp.
The MSG Sphere Las Vegas, behind the Venetian and Palazzo, will be connected to the casino complex via a pedestrian bridge. Construction is expected to start later this year, and the venue could open by late 2020, officials said.
“We will host concerts, residencies and awards shows, corporate events/product launches and a wide range of other entertainment events, including next-generation events for audiences who want to be more connected, and even participate, in the event experience, such as mass gaming,” said Kimberly Kerns, senior vice president of communications for Madison Square Garden Co.
The sphere, 500 feet across at its widest point and more than 360 feet tall, could also be configured to host mixed martial arts fights and boxing matches, Kerns said.
The sphere will feature interior and exterior digital displays, a state of the art sound system and luxury seating, officials said.
Las Vegas Sands will provide MSG with $75 million to help fund construction. Total cost of the project was not released.
Madison Square Garden Co. plans to build another sphere arena in London.
