had hoped, nor generate as large of a bump in visitation as he predicted. But the massive (4,000- room) Aria hotel-casino enjoys some of the highest rates in Vegas and there are other indications that the big CityCenter gamble is beginning to pay off, where once it had looked as though Murren had rolled snake eyes. Early success, in the casino industry, is usually
achieved by being on the curve of popular taste, giving customers a slightly better version of what they already want. MGM is trying proffer tourists and customers things they don’t expect. And if anyone thought Murren was chastened by the CityCenter
12
experience, they misjudged their man. On April 18, Murren announced a multi-part plan
to remake part of the Strip. Most visibly, MGM will convert the Strip fronts of Monte Carlo Resort & Casino and New York-New York Hotel & Casino into outdoor plazas. The latter’s skyline is to be trimmed and a Hershey’s Chocolate World multi-story flagship store will be placed smack in the middle. A back street between the two casinos will be transformed into a park. Two shoebox-like office buildings erected during the construction of CityCenter will be demolished to make room for a 20,000-seat arena, supplementing the MGM Grand Garden Arena and
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32