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 )
These places are great. Doesnt anyone miss the old Sahara? Pictures from that place were amazing and fun. Planet Hollywood doesn't come close to it.
we stayed in the luxor for our honeymoon in 2016 from the uk everyday i was in awe of the building it would be a great shame as las vegas seems to be getting boring and playing it safe, i agree that excaliber could do with a refit as old decor but a big part of the attraction of las vegas is the crazy building designs if they demolish all the landmarks it will be a normal city glossed over with LED screens (and even those have lost the vegas magic) if you look at old vegas 60's 70's 80's 90's is looked magical they should try to recapture that that using new technology i hope the luxor will be there in a few years when we go back
The corporations have slowly de-themed the resorts over the past 10-15 years. I opened Paris, and to see how it looks now, is just sad, especially the Budweiser Beer Garden and that awful "wall" in front of the Opera House. I know that tastes mature and corporations are catering to tastes, but leave some things alone.
Would be nice to see a normal Vegas again
I've Actually stayed in the pyramid. It's amazing. going up the side of a pyramid in an elevator is an experience unlike any other. Having a room in the pyramid with the flat angled glass window, especially if you have the hot tub right under that window, is the coolest room ever!! The whole point of going to Vegas is to sightsee and to be a little cheesy. Just a bunch of fancy hotels up and down a street is anywhere in the world where they let you gamble. No big deal. You go to Vegas for the experience of New York New York and the roller coaster The Luxor pyramid and the Sphinx, The crazy shows and the magicians... The crazy green lights of the MGM and the giant lion are attractions. There's a lot of places you can go to stay at a hotel in gamble. That's not what Vegas is for. I don't even gamble and have been to Vegas five times. They don't need to tear the looks were down They just need to market that shit better. If people knew how cool those pyramid rooms were even just getting to ride in that elevator is so fun... They would be booked all the time.
Scott Roeben's track record is not "solid." He's the same guy who said that a Las Vegas expansion team was being announced in October 2019 by MLB and that the stadium would be near the South Point...that was all BS. His track record is more like "take everything he says with a grain of salt."
I have been going to Vegas for many years. For the hair and nail shows, first shows for my boutique. It really bothers me that you guys are changing so much. I absolutely was in shock to see there is no longer the 24 hour cafe that served those wonderful shrimp cocktails. Then was not really feeling the go go dancers. Please leave it alone. Thank you Tammy Grice Waldport, or.
If Las Vegas wants to upgrade anything , the "market" on the wrong side of the street should be their first target. Pretty dang scary over on the dark side of the strip.
I been living in Vegas for 8 years and I love the Vegas strip and at night it’s most beautiful sight and I just want to say that this how every body is Coming to visit Vegas because with out the Vegas strip it not Vegas and I like the sites of the strip please don’t spread rumors about it because it upsetting me and I don’t spread any rumors about you ok and I just want to say I love you Vegas and be strong and polite because everyone needs to be polite to everyone and if you can’t please try for Vegas because I love Vegas just the way it is because we are a team and we can stand strong and be kind to the Vegas strip because it bring us love and you can’t fight the love and I know we are tired of being stuck at home because of this COVID 19 and I know it sucks but do put Vegas in harm’s way and I am a lover and not a fighter and I do care about Vegas way to much and it made me happy because when I see Vegas strip it makes me happy and it put a smile on my face when I see the whole Vegas strip ok and when you put rumors on Vegas strip it makes me sad ok and I love you Vegas to much
Please don’t bring back family themed casino. I don’t go to Vegas and see children or dogs. I love them but not in Vegas. If you want to bring something back bring back the MGM Lions. Let’s keep Vegas an Adult Playground. Thanks see you soon.
I have mixed feelings about this. When I first moved here in 2007, I thought the King Tut museum (moved downtown) I thought it was a great hotel attraction. But even without it, the hotel's decor is amazing especially for tourists! I hope it doesn't end up like the other old Vegas hotels of the past.
If Mgm wants to take down hotels Excalibur and NYNY should go first.
Are you freaking kidding me? I absolutely love both those places! When I bring the grandkids to Veg, we stay at 'The Castle '. They love the Tournament of The Kings! They like Luxor because of the mummies, and the Blue People's show! I know they have to do this, but what in the hell will ever replace them?
Ha!!! If anyone takes Scott Roeben's information as truth or actionable, they truly are gamblers. He's wrong so often. He's a well known bar fly peddling in rumours.
Pretty soon the Strip will just be a bunch of bland high rises competing to see who can have more Gucci stores. I loved going to the Strip as a kid but avoid it now even as an LV resident because it's gotten boring. So disappointing to see what's happening to what used to be such an original place.