Mirage Casino on the Las Vegas Strip to Close This Summer

The iconic Mirage hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip will shut its doors this summer, marking the end of an era for a property that played a pivotal role in transforming Sin City into an ultra-luxury resort destination. The closure, set for July 17, will pave the way for major renovations and construction on the 80-acre (32-hectare) property. It is scheduled to reopen in 2027 as the Hard Rock Las Vegas, featuring a hotel tower shaped like a guitar, soaring nearly 700 feet (about 210 meters) above the heart of the Strip.

“We’d like to thank the Las Vegas community and team for warmly welcoming Hard Rock after enjoying 34 years at The Mirage,” stated Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International, in the announcement made Wednesday.

The End of an Era

This will be the second time this year that a casino on the Strip will shutter its doors. In April, the Tropicana Las Vegas closed after 67 years to make room for a $1.5 billion baseball stadium, planned as the future home of the relocating Oakland A’s.

The Mirage, developed by former casino mogul Steve Wynn, opened in 1989 with a Polynesian theme as the Strip’s first megaresort. Its debut spurred a building boom on the famous boulevard throughout the 1990s. The volcano fountain at the Mirage was one of the first sidewalk attractions, predating iconic features like the Venetian’s canals and the Bellagio’s dancing fountains. The Mirage also became famous as a venue where tourists could see Siegfried and Roy taming white tigers or enjoy a Cirque du Soleil act set to a Beatles soundtrack.

The Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show, which has brought Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr together for public appearances throughout its 18-year run, will also see its final performance in July.

Impact on Employees

Hard Rock International announced that more than 3,000 employees will be laid off, with an expected payout of $80 million in severance. The Culinary Workers Union, which has represented about 1,700 employees at the Mirage since its opening, stated that the contract won last year ensures laid-off workers will receive $2,000 for each year of service. The contract also offers the option for workers to be called back to work and maintain their seniority when the hotel reopens.

“Culinary Union will continue to ensure workers are protected and centered in the property’s future,” the union’s statement read.

Transition to Hard Rock Las Vegas

The Mirage became the first property on the Strip to be operated by a Native American tribe in 2022, following Hard Rock International’s purchase from MGM Resorts in a cash deal worth nearly $1.1 billion. Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, announced at the time that the property would remain open under the Mirage brand for several years while renovation plans were finalized.

As the Mirage prepares for its transformation, it is no longer accepting bookings for after July 14. Any reservations beyond that date will be canceled and refunded.

This transition marks a significant moment in the history of the Las Vegas Strip, as the Mirage, a trailblazer in the megaresort era, makes way for the next chapter in the form of the Hard Rock Las Vegas.

Source:

“Mirage, a landmark Strip resort, prepares to vanish”, reviewjournal.com, May 15, 2024.