The pandemic isn’t over yet but Vegas retail and online casino venues are looking ahead as they consider how to rebuild and even expand the Vegas brand. A number of new casino sign up bonus projects were completed in 2020 and plans are moving ahead for more big projects in 2021.
What can Vegas enthusiasts expect in the coming year?
Construction
The year 2020 may have been a dismal one for hospitality-based locations like Las Vegas but that doesn’t mean that the movers and shakers are throwing up their hands. On the contrary, projects that were scheduled to advance in 2021 are moving forward as scheduled and more projects are being planned.
Circa
The Circa Resort and Casino opened its gaming floor as scheduled in October and opened a rooftop lounge and a 777-room hotel in December. Circa will be targeting a high-end clientele with in-room bars, in-room fireplaces and suites that measure up to 1,612 square feet. The Legacy Club is located on top of the 60th floor and features an outdoor terrace with a 360 degree view of Las Vegas.
When visitors return to Vegas they’ll find a new thrill ride at the Circus Circus Las Vegas Aventuredome called NebulaZ with gondolas that rise 32 feet in the air and rotate riders 14 times a minute. The Circa will operate the world’s largest sportsbook when the new site opens and has plans to turn its renowned buffet into a food court.
Virgin
Virgin Hotels is a new player in Las Vegas. JC Hospitality, the company that owns Virgin, announced that its planned opening of January 2021 has been postponed but the company is taking bookings for its rooms from April 7th.
Virgin Hotels is operating in partnership with Mohegan Sun Casino, making it the first tribally-owned casino in Vegas. The property will include a 60,000 square foot casino space with a race and sports book, an outdoor entertainment space for events and concerts and 1505 rooms spread out over three towers.
Resorts World
At the Venetian, construction of the MSG Sphere, a 17,000 seat entertainment center being developed in partnership with Madison Square Garden, is moving forward on schedule. The center is scheduled to be completed by 2023 and is envisioned to become Vegas’s biggest entertainment complex.
Events
In addition to construction, there are a number of events planned for 2021 which are scheduled to take place according to their original timetable. Some of the highlights include
AREA15
Area15 opened in 2020 and the dining, retail and entertainment space will, hopefully, get a lot of use in 2021. One of the biggest events planned is the launch of Meow Wolf, an interactive and trippy walk-through an art installation from Santa Fe. Meow Wolf plans to bring to Vegas the Omega Mart 52,000 foot exhibit, the arcade games/bar Emporium, the Five Iron Golf simulator (with a full bar) and an interactive distillery tour called “Lost Spirits.”
West Hall
The Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall is scheduled to open in 2021 and once conventions and trade shows return to Las Vegas the West Hall will step up to its place of glory.
It’s a 1.5 million square foot facility with a sleek design, floor-to-ceiling windows that create an atmosphere of natural light, an outdoor plaza and an atrium with one of the world’s largest digital screens.
Local Rail
Getting around the Convention Center will be easier than ever thanks to Elon Musk’s transportation system which will chauffer trade show and convention attendees around the area in Tesla vehicles. The previous 15-minute walk will be cut down to a 1-minute zip.
Expansion tunnels are already being planned to take people from the Convention Center to Resorts World. Musk also plans to build a Vegas Loop to facilitate travel from Downtown in the north to Allegiant Stadium in the south.
Pinball Hall of Fame
Las Vegas is known for having some rather….unique…..museums including the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement (known as the Mob Museum) which traces the history of mob activities in Vegas’s evolution, the Neon Museum that showcases old neon signs from Vegas, the Burlesque Hall of Fame where Vegas’s biggest burlesque stars are honored and Thriller Villa dedicated to Michael Jackson’s legacy.
This coming year the long-awaited Pinball Hall of Fame is set to move to a bigger space on Las Vegas Boulevard by Russell Road. When it does it will be the largest pinball arcade in the world where the world’s largest pinball collection will be housed and displayed alongside hundreds of pinball machines for people to play themselves.
Esports Arena
The exploding popularity of esports is being recognized in Vegas where the eSports Arena, a partnership between Allied eSports and MGM Resorts International, is set to open this year. Features will include telescopic seating, a production studio and a 50-foot LED video wall. Entry will be via day passes and tournament participation will involve an extra fee.
Restaurants
Despite the downturn in tourism, a number of eateries have either upgraded or are planning to do so in the coming year. Two of the most exciting new eateries include:
Mayfair Supper Club
The Mayfair Supper Club takes its inspiration from London supper clubs where British upper-crust once met to dine, dance and socialize. The atmosphere at this club is that of England in the Roaring ‘20s and patrons can expect dinner and craft drinks plus a full night of entertainment with singers, dancers and other live musicians. The restaurant/club is located where the Hyde Bellagio nightclub once existed and the Bellagio fountains provide a backdrop for this energy-enthused nightclub venue.
Delilah
Wynn’s Delilah supper club’s opening has been delayed from May to sometime in 2021 but insiders say that when it does open, the wait will be worth it. Delilah is another Roaring ‘20s supper club that will specialize in delicious fare, cocktails and live jazz performances. Late-night parties will be held on the weekends. The upstairs bar is designed to create the atmosphere of a Prohibition-era speakeasy.
Don’t count Vegas out yet. 2021 may turn out to be the city’s best year in a long time.
