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 )
Vegas went downhill when the mafia was pushed out. It's just a bunch of punks and wanna-be's walking around being obnoxious. Old Vegas would have never let that happen.
I mean, after all, Egyptians probably find the place to be offensive and totally politically incorrect. :)
Clooney said it best
Luxor is remodeling the edr so why spend money and time to demolish something makes no sense this the guy who said that the redrock is going to be sold by the station casinos as we all know redrock is still a station casino and that was 2 years ago
I personally LOVE the unusualness of Luxor, if the strip just becomes a series of boring hotels & sports crap, I shall look elsewhere for entertainment :(
B.S. there's not going to be any major new projects to announce on the strip for years!
If this were true, great job MgM for continuing to destroy Vegas history and adding to the boring, bland modernization of the Strip. Themed casinos make them stand out and unique from all the towering office looking casinos like the Aria or Cosmo. Families have increased traffic in Vegas you might want to rethink your strategy and i’ll bet every penny i have that if TI rebranded as they were back in the 90s and brought back their original theme and shows they’d see an increase of foot traffic and profits
I hope this is not happening. I love staying at the Luxor hotel. It is a marvel of construction excellence. We go to Vegas every year and. Always spend a few days at the Luxor. I hope this tradition will continue into the future.
MGM cannot alter the iconic shape and theme of the Luxor so why not go back to its hey day and fully re-theme the resort. I have read that they have many statues etc in storage and who would not want to see the hosts/hostess in the gorgeous Egyptian costumes? This would not cost MGM a fortune to do and would attract a new generation to its doors.
When will the stratosphere reopen as I am coming with the wife in october from the UK for our anniversary Thanks Paul
Luxor is a dump. Its time for it to go
If they demolished this iconic structure it will affect the whole tourism of Vegas.Covid19 will not last long anytime soon when there is a vaccine that will come very soon.
Thank you so much We were very concerned about Demo Rumours Being Vegas Residents for over 25 years - we are thankful We have lost too many Landmarks!!
I remember when the Luxor WAS truly themed Egyption. With the camels, and all its splendor. An yes, I saw when the magic of what Las Vegas was, was lost, and the corporations decided to just throw it all away and preferred to cater to the younger crowd such as Paris Hilton , & Brittany SPEARS, the late 20 and 30 yr olds . Soon the stained carpet, from spilled drinks, the excrement from to much liquid enjoyment, that's what replaced the grandeur and the true experience of what was one of the jewels of Las Vegas. Maybe now with the Covid 19 cleaning out the elegant Casinos and shutting down the club's. Going back to the was it was , when the rat pack and the show's and the gambling is what Las Vegas truly was. Maybe, just Maybe, this would be more beneficial for all , patrons and operator's. The big clubs with people packed in like cattle for the slaughter , let them party in there own locations . keep them separate from the casinos & the gamblers & the families that want to truly experience, what Las Vegas is. The Magic is there still, and yes the revenue ,if the corporations slow down and take a step back . All things last longer when taken care of.
Oh no!!!! After unfortunately moving back to tend to family matters, I've made the Luxor, Las Vegas my home away from home. The customer service is second to none. Once after a long plane ride & late luggage..& late car rental, made for a total exhausting day.... The valet came to the car & as was anything that they could do..It was a wonderful trip from there. The Luxor is where I reccomend all of my friends & family. From the desk check to the sadly returning home, the Luxor is my #1 place to stay.