Tropicana Spared, Partially
The new owners of The Tropicana say they will be sparing much of the nearly 50 year old resort a date with the wrecking ball, choosing instead to redevelop the property and build a lot of new stuff around it - $2 billion worth, to be specific.
The plans, revealed in a session with state gaming officials, include keeping the two main hotel towers but those will both get major overhauls. Although prices will undoubtedly go up, the company swears it will maintain a focus on the middle-market Vegas visitor, eschewing the luxury market that everyone else is going after.
The less than appealing “garden rooms” will be demolished and as many as five new hotel towers will be built on the property, including at least one that will launch a new brand for Vegas (the name hasn’t been announced yet).
The existing casino, restaurants, and showroom will be kept open while new ones are being built elsewhere on the land but then those will eventually be torn down or substantially overhauled.
Construction is expected to begin as early as July of 2007.
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New Prince of Las Vegas
As had been rumored, music icon Prince will be taking up residence at The Rio in Las Vegas. More than just a stage and high ticket prices, Prince will take over the space once known as Club Rio and the Scinta Showroom, turning it into something called 3121 – a combination nightclub, performance space, and restaurant for “Jazz Cuisine.”
Prince will perform on Friday and Saturday nights in the intimate venue for a royal sum of $125 per person. Dinner and show packages start at more than $300 but include a meal, VIP tickets, and bottle service during the show.
Other performers will take the stage on Wednesday nights, with Prince occasionally sitting in, and Thursday nights will be a Latin themed dance club.
The gig starts November 10 and is currently open-ended.
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Other New Prince of Vegas
Blah, blah, blah, Prince, blah, blah, music icon, blah, blah. What about the other big news in Vegas entertainment this week, much more exciting than the Purple Rain guy playing a couple of concerts.
The Hoff is coming to Vegas, baby!
David Hasselhoff, star of such classic, hard-hitting, award-winning fare as “Knight Rider” and “Baywatch,” will be taking on the role of Roger DeBris in the upcoming run of “The Producers” at Paris Las Vegas. Those hoping for a swimsuit scene or perhaps a singing car, will have to make due instead with David Hasselhoff in a dress, which might just be the pop-culture oddity that this production needs to break the Broadway curse.
The Producers will start its run in February of 2007 and tickets are now available online or through the Paris Box Office at 877-374-7469. Shows, at opening, will be daily except Wednesday at 8pm with an additional 2pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are $75-$144 inclusive.
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Last Chance to Take a Drive
If you’re looking to slip behind the wheel of a sports car or massive SUV that you’ll never be able to afford and flog them mercilessly for a few minutes, you’re going to have to hurry. The Drive, a unique attraction featuring GM cars and trucks on performance and faux off-road courses, will be shutting down for good on November 18th. The lease on the parking lot behind The Sahara is up and won’t be renewed, which only amps up the rumor mill about what may be happening to that particular hotel.
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Neonopolis: Anatomy of a Disaster
It was supposed to be the savior of Downtown Las Vegas, a glitzy, gaudy $100 million shopping and entertainment center to anchor the Fremont Street Experience and, of course, draw hordes of shoppers and fun seekers to the area.
Of course it never quite worked like that. The place was plagued by problems from the get go, with less than marquee tenants (magnet stores?) and a design that did more to hide what was inside from the crowds on Fremont Street than showcase them. Businesses failed and despite many attempts to revive the mostly moribund building, nothing quite clicked.
Earlier this year the building was sold to a group of investors for roughly a quarter of what it cost to build and they immediately started kicking the few remaining tenants out. Now the building sits completely empty, save for the two anchor establishments: the restaurant and bowling alley Jillian’s and the movie theaters. Owners of the businesses inside say they were given no explanation for the evictions and little notice.
So what is next for Neonopolis? Well, one possibility being floated is a date with a wrecking ball. That’s right, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the owners are considering tearing the place down so they can build a new hotel and casino on the land. No formal decision has been made at this time.
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