Hello friends! Hard Rock Las Vegas is going up as the Tropicana has come down! Plus, all of Las Vegas is bracing for the big Formula 1 race! We’re reporting from the Las Vegas Strip with a look at the demolition work and the race course, plus more rumors that could bring an NBA team to Sin City.
The Tropicana is no more! The walls came down as scheduled early Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the new Las Vegas baseball stadium which they plan to have up and running by 2028 Hello friends, J Todd out here on the Las Vegas Strip. I’m out here because I wanted to show you all the preparation work that’s being done for F1 Las Vegas this year, and there have been some changes. More on that in just a moment.
Up first, I wanted to show you what’s happening over at the Mirage, or at least where the Mirage used to be. The volcano has been completely removed at this point, and most of you know that Hard Rock plans to build their guitar-shaped hotel in that space, with a planned opening date in 2027. And while searching for information and updates recently we happened to find this mock-up of how the new resort will be positioned on the Vegas Strip. We found it interesting and hope you do as well. If you’d like more information on the closure of the Mirage, or the opening of Hard Rock Las Vegas, we did a video on that a couple months ago.
Now, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is right around the corner and last year the Grand Prix really succeeded in doing several things: causing horrendous traffic jams, pissing a lot of people off, and it made some money for the resorts. This year it’s going to be a little bit different. As you can see here up and down the Strip, preparations are well underway… with lights going up and barricades in place… the bleachers will follow soon. And the city along, with F1, are committed to making it a better experience for everybody moving forward.
To do this, work on the race course this year was reduced from 9 months to just three, and most of that work was done overnight. Also, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority started a park and ride service for casino employees, leading to less traffic and fewer headaches for resort workers. There’s also a new website for Vegas residents to help them navigate the road closures and find the best way to get around town. One of the most important changes this year, however, has to be the bridges over the race course that have been reduced from four lanes down to two. The reason that’s important is because last year those bridges kind of blocked off traffic from making it to local businesses here in Las Vegas, and it really hurt a lot of them. So that’s a significant change… a positive change.
In addition to news on Tropicana, Mirage, and Hard Rock Las Vegas, this city has has become quite the sports town since the Supreme Court struck down the law that made sports betting illegal most everywhere else. Now the leagues are embracing sports betting, so Vegas is getting professional sports teams. They have the WNBA, the MLB, the NFL, and the NHL. But do you know what’s missing? Rumors have surface that a brand new NBA arena will be built near the Rio… and yes, it’s the same rumor as before, not a new one. And the same people who were supposed to build the arena on the south end of the Strip are the same people working with the owners of the Rio for a brand new NBA ready basketball arena. Perhaps inspired by the deal they saw Bally’s make with the baseball team.
Now keep in mind this is just a rumor, however it’s a rumor that has a lot of credibility to it. Part of the reason Vegas prices have been so high post pandemic is the fact that Vegas is adding all these new attractions, like the Las Vegas Sphere, and they’re bringing in sporting events, like the Super Bowl and F1 that we were just discussing. Plus, these great concerts they have, and these great restaurants. But the professional sports teams also add to the growing price of visiting Las Vegas. However, you’re getting more value, if this is the sort of stuff you enjoy.