Luxor Las Vegas Demolition Rumors Spread, Insiders Say Days Numbered for MGM Casino
Posted on: June 29, 2020, 08:07h.
Last updated on: June 29, 2020, 10:24h.
The Luxor Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip has been a staple of the city skyline since it opened in 1993. But the iconic pyramid could be facing a much shorter existence than its ancient counterparts in Egypt.
Scott Roeben, the Las Vegas insider who has more sources than an encyclopedia and runs the popular Twitter account Vital Vegas, says Luxor parent company MGM Resorts is strongly considering demolishing the budget and family-friendly Strip property.
Our sources say company officials have discussed demolition of both Luxor and Excalibur for at least five years, but have been unable to proceed due to union contracts. It’s possible the COVID-19 shutdown has paved the way for what’s to come for Luxor,” Roeben explained.
MGM Resorts’ real estate investment trust MGM Growth Properties owns the physical assets of Luxor. Today, it has 4,397 hotel rooms, and casino floor measuring 101,000 square feet.
Roeben went on to say that Las Vegas has pivoted away from themed resorts in recent years. MGM has already transformed Monte Carlo into Park MGM, and largely done away with the “Wizard of Oz” theme at MGM Grand.
Another Strip resort to fold on its original theme includes Treasure Island. Now known as TI, the casino no longer inundates guests with themes of the treasured adventure novel, and it canned its free nightly show “Sirens of TI” in 2013.
End of Era?
Built at a cost of $375 million, Luxor opened just south of Excalibur on October 15, 1993. Named after the town in Egypt, the Luxor pyramid on the Strip is modeled after the Red Pyramid, the largest of the three major pyramids found at the Dahshur necropolis in Cairo.
When Luxor opened, the 30-story resort was the tallest structure on the Strip.
Though MGM has invested in renovations to the Egyptian-themed casino, including a $300 million project in 2007 to remodel 80 percent of the resort’s public areas to focus more on adults, the building’s design makes it nearly impossible to fully move away from its original motif.
There are plenty of Luxor fans who fretted the Vital Vegas news.
“If Las Vegas is to survive, maybe they need to get back to attracting families,” said Shawn Smallman on Twitter. “I personally like both Luxor and Excalibur.” “I don’t care if it’s not fancy, it’s another place I love,” said another Twitter user. “We already had to deal with the pain of losing classics like Stardust, Frontier, and Riviera.”
Just Rumors
MGM Resorts has made no official comment on the Luxor rumors, so for now, fans of the property shouldn’t overly worry. And while Roeben’s track record is solid, Las Vegas is ever-changing and plans – and rumors – often change.
Last year, there were rumblings around town that Caesars Entertainment was actively moving towards demolishing the Brazilian-themed Rio. Rumors suggested the decision was to make way for a MLB ballpark.
It turned out not to be the case, as the off-Strip resort was sold for $526.3 million to Eric Birnbaum’s Dreamscape Companies. Birnbaum says there are no plans to demolish the resort, and he has entered into a two-year leaseback exchange with Caesars for the casino company to operate Rio for $45 million in annual rent.
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Last Comments ( 52 )
crappey travelodge burn it down
NO NO NO the Excalibur, Luxor & Stratosphere should be left alone. Why do you want to demolish any one of these (to probably make them look like everything else in Vegas). They are landmarks.... leave the outside of those buildings alone.
Very sad if Luxor be demolished.Vegas skylight will look different without its main and proper for a desert symbol - The beautiful pyramid - The Luxor architecture makes a big difference amoung the other also gorgeous hotels.We've been having the opportunity to stay at the Luxor for about six times.In one of our stays my husband and I had the opportunity to stay at the very top of the pyramid.It used to be called The Pharao Suite, I think if I remember the year was either 1997 or 1999, don't recall but we do have all the pictures from that time there.I felt like Cleopatra...lol and we had the elevator only for us...Wow... So, as I'm an Architect, my suggestion is just to keep The Luxor shape doing a good and updated restoration to it! Please leave the desert symbol up! Thank you! we will be awfully happy.
I would be so sad if Luxor went BUT it’s Vegas as long as it’s replaced with something bigger and better than it’s what it is
The luxur Finnished, and about 5 more casino's are done, it won't be worth to be open, they will lose money ever night and day for a long time if ever going to make money, I lived here in Vegas for 16 years I think I been in one of those 6 hotels , just boring , they come from all over the world , not knowing what to do, they take their pictures, then what get some food, they don't play, they seem lost, casino's all over the U.S. Vegas in Big Trouble!!!!!!!
When the mob guys had to leave, they took with them excitement, entertainment, dress standards, great food (even in the coffee shop), 20-minute room service, and respect for the customer. The pit bosses comped you -- not some machine after you "earned points." When the lousy corporations took over the hotels in the 1980's, that's when the city began its inexorable slide from a *true* adult-oriented, classy, fabulous, entertainment capitol to a dump-site for lowlifes and their offspring. They should blow up every hotel built after 1965, and/or bring back the ones that don't exist anymore: the Stardust, the *real* Sahara (with the Casbar Lounge), the Riviera, the *real* Flamingo..... And for crissakes, bring back the entertainers in the big rooms. I promise we'll gamble afterwards.
This is happening and is for stadium parking lot. Was always a plan for the past year
I have to admit, I stopped taking this article seriously once I read the sucking up to Vital Virus. Killed ALL of your credibility.
Vital vegas is unreliable source of rumors
Love the resort's as they are very historical
YES !!! Please when will the Mirage hotel reopened again ?? I really love staying at The Beautiful Mirage Hotel. The Mirage hotel is one of my favorite hotels I really love staying at and when iam in Vegas on my vacation. Mirage, Luxor, NYNY and these are my very favorite hotels that I extremely love staying at when iam in Vegas. I used to stay at The Sahara and it was closed down to become SLS hotel. But did hear they reopened the SLS and to become the Sahara hotel again. I also heard they opened the lucky dragon hotel and then they shut down.
I really love going to Las Vegas for my vacation place and I really enjoy my self and I always stay at the Luxor, Mirage, NYNY. My birthday was April 25 and I was going to be in Vegas and staying at the Luxor and Mirage April 23-27. But since the virus and I wasn't able to go to Vegas for my birthday at all. I have been going to Las Vegas with my family and friends for years. The last time I was in Vegas Aug 23-26 2017. Iam totally home sick not being able to going back to Vegas again. Iam planning on going to be back in Vegas Nov 23-27 and iam staying at The Luxor hotel. Please don't do anything to the The Luxor hotel or The Excalibur hotel at all. I really enjoy going to both of these hotels.
When Will The Mirage Open?
You really should stop posting unsubstantiated rumors that can impact people’s jobs. Scott fabricated the mlb to rio rumors and now this and you post them as news?
Not sure why you insist on using Scott as a reliable source. He is not in the know. Sitting at casino bars begging for drinks and making up rumors isn’t journalism. Scott has been fired from several gaming companies for incompetence and is less than 50% with his scoops.