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134-728: CityCenter was developed by MGM Mirage and Dubai World . The project was conceived by MGM president and chief financial officer Jim Murren , who envisioned an urban district for Las Vegas, similar to Greenwich Village or Haight-Ashbury . MGM announced CityCenter on November 9, 2004. Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects spent 20 months working with MGM on the master plan. Numerous architects, assembled by Gensler , were hired to work on individual components of CityCenter. The project received LEED Gold certifications for its environmentally friendly designs. Construction of CityCenter began on June 25, 2006, with Perini Building Company as general contractor. A year later, Dubai World joined MGM as

268-516: A $ 1-billion resort in National Harbor, Maryland and a $ 950-million resort in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts . In May 2014, the company broke ground on the $ 375-million T-Mobile Arena located behind New-New York Hotel and Casino, in partnership with AEG Live . The arena opened on April 6, 2016. MGM sold several properties in 2015, including the Railroad Pass Casino ,

402-417: A cybersecurity attack by the hacking group Scattered Spider . The company refused to pay a ransom to the hackers, and stated that its losses of $ 100 million would be covered by cyber insurance . As a result of the cyberattack, multiple class action lawsuits were filed against MGM Resorts as well as Caesars Entertainment , which Scattered Spider had hacked into during the same month, with all stating that

536-655: A $ 525-million offer for its interest in MotorCity from Marian Ilitch , the casino's second largest shareholder. Meanwhile, in Illinois, where MGM needed regulatory approval to take over Mandalay's 50 percent interest in the Grand Victoria Casino , a lack of quorum on the state Gaming Board threatened to delay the merger. MGM considered a sale to the casino's other owner, the Pritzker family , but ultimately gained approval for

670-436: A $ 7 million seafood restaurant opened later that year. Catch is known for drawing celebrities to its New York and Los Angeles locations. Union Restaurant & Lounge was replaced by a Mexican restaurant, Javier's , in 2012. The restaurant's design includes a canopy made of ropes that hangs over the bar area. Several new restaurants were added in 2015, including Carbone , which serves Italian-American food. Mina opened

804-521: A $ 7.9 billion deal. MGM executives were confident that antitrust regulators would not require the sale of any of the two companies' properties. Michigan law, however, forbade one company from owning multiple casinos, requiring the sale of either the MGM Grand Detroit or Mandalay's 54 percent stake in the MotorCity Casino . After some vacillation about which property to sell, Mandalay accepted

938-495: A 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m) expansion of the resort's convention center. Vdara and Waldorf Astoria also include meeting space. The complex was technologically advanced upon its opening, featuring 100,000 automated devices throughout the property, some of which would be used to control various room features such as lighting. Various public art installations, valued at approximately $ 40 million, are featured throughout CityCenter, in an effort to attract art tourists. Known as

1072-502: A 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) steel wall used as a concrete mold fell from a crane, hitting another wall which struck four workers, killing two. In August 2007, a worker died when the counterweight for a construction elevator came down on him as he oiled the machine. Two months later, a worker fell approximately 50 ft (15 m) while working on the Aria tower. In April 2008, a worker fell approximately 20 ft (6 m). The next month,

1206-457: A 50 percent stake in MGM's CityCenter project. Dubai World would pay MGM Mirage an additional $ 100 million if the project opened on time and on budget. The investment firm would buy 14.2 million shares from MGM Mirage. The firm would also issue a public tender for an additional 14.2 million shares at the same price. On October 29, 2008, MGM Mirage halted a $ 5 billion Atlantic City project on land next to

1340-556: A French restaurant, Bardot Brasserie , replacing American Fish. Another new restaurant was Herringbone, which served seafood. It closed in 2020 and was replaced by Salt & Ivy Cafe. Din Tai Fung opened its largest U.S. restaurant at Aria in 2020. Upon its opening, Aria also included a buffet, which proved to be popular. It closed in 2012 for remodeling, before reopening two months later. The buffet had previously featured an abundance of tiling, prompting customer comparisons with

1474-503: A bathroom. Executive chef Shawn Smilie said, "We used to have these tiles everywhere, and people said it reminded them of a shower. That had to change". The remodel replaced most of the tiling with wood and also added brighter colors. The buffet closed in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The 24,000 sq ft (2,200 m ) space reopened in late 2022 as Proper Eats, a food hall with

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1608-463: A beautiful casino resort and have signs around the rest of the campus saying, 'Coming Soon'? You just can't do that". In 2016, MGM and Dubai World sold Crystals for $ 1.1 billion to Invesco and Simon Property Group . Two years later, the Mandarin Oriental hotel was sold for $ 214 million to hotel investor Tiffany Lam and Panda Express founders Andrew and Peggy Cherng . It was rebranded under

1742-712: A bid on one of the three available gaming licenses, which would eventually be approved and open in July 1999 as the MGM Grand Detroit . In South Africa , with casino gambling newly authorized, MGM announced plans in August 1996 to develop 15 properties in conjunction with Tsogo Sun . The first, a temporary casino in Johannesburg 's Sundome , opened in October 1998. Three more casinos followed before MGM agreed to sell out its interest in

1876-529: A bidding war, with MGM finally losing out to an investors group including Kerzner International. The Triangle Casino was sold off to Stanley Leisure in 2006. The company's other development plans were scuttled as the government scaled down, and eventually abandoned, the plan to allow large " super-casinos ". In 2004, the company disposed of some of its smaller properties, selling the two Golden Nugget casinos ( Golden Nugget Las Vegas and Golden Nugget Laughlin ) to Poster Financial Group for $ 215 million, and

2010-539: A casino resort, three boutique hotels , condominiums, retail space, and restaurants. MGM would work with developers and consultants specialized in each of these industries. The company also held discussions with a dozen hotel operators, seeking managers for CityCenter's hotels. CityCenter was built on 67 acres (27 ha) on the Las Vegas Strip , in between MGM's Monte Carlo and Bellagio resorts. The Boardwalk hotel-casino, also owned by MGM, occupied eight acres of

2144-466: A casino, and a shopping mall. The Boardwalk was closed in January 2006 to make way for the redevelopment, and CityCenter construction began the following June. Singapore emerged in 2004 as the next major new Asian gaming market, calling for proposals to build two " integrated resort " casinos at Marina Bay and the island of Sentosa . MGM partnered with CapitaLand in an estimated $ 3 billion bid for

2278-425: A city is its diversity. It is vibrant and dynamic and has people of different backgrounds. Real cities have many different environments, like Manhattan. That's what I loved about the idea. We're not creating a fake city but a real one". Baldwin said, "We don't want to build things consumers want now. We want to build what they will want 10, 15, 50 years from now". Gensler served as the executive architect, assembling

2412-480: A concrete pour for the project's main resort, unnamed at the time. The "Aria" name, unveiled in May 2008, was inspired by the resort's placement as the central feature of CityCenter, as arias are focal points in operas. Aria opened on December 16, 2009, at 11:41 p.m., following a two-minute fireworks show. It was the fourth component to open at CityCenter, and is the primary hotel property there. Aria opened during

2546-612: A convention center expansion. The 1,840-seat theater originally hosted Viva Elvis , a show by Cirque du Soleil based on the music of Elvis Presley . It ran from 2010 to 2012, closing due to low ticket sales. Zarkana , a new show by Cirque du Soleil, opened two months later and ran until the theater's closure. Aria is part of the CityCenter project, developed by MGM Mirage (later MGM Resorts International) and Dubai World . Perini Building Company served as general contractor. Construction of CityCenter began on June 25, 2006, with

2680-455: A counterpoint to recent themed resorts, writing that "the underlying risk of the CityCenter project is that good buildings next to outlandish ones will look quiet and bland. Caesars Palace and its progeny are crass but iconic. The CityCenter buildings are sophisticated, but you wonder, finally, if they are all that memorable". Brock Radke of Las Vegas Weekly called the design "too subtle" for

2814-509: A daily cost of $ 3.5 million. More than 50 million hours were spent building CityCenter, which had more workers than the construction of Hoover Dam . CityCenter was initially expected to cost between $ 3 billion and $ 4 billion. Part of the project would be financed through condominium presales. By 2006, the project's budget had increased to $ 7 billion, due to several additions, including a monorail connecting throughout CityCenter. The rising cost of construction materials and labor also contributed to

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2948-468: A dozen options, including a pizza restaurant by DJ Steve Aoki . The resort's food and alcohol are stored in off-site and on-site warehouses. Aria is popular among young adults, particularly for its nightlife. Haze, a 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m ) nightclub, opened with the resort. It was designed by Icrave and operated by The Light Group . Haze included DJs and a 100-foot projection screen. According to Aria president Bobby Baldwin , "Haze

3082-460: A five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide . The resort also includes the only casino at CityCenter, with 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m ) of gaming space. Other features include an 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m ) salon and spa , 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m ) of convention space, and numerous restaurants, as well as artwork and water attractions. Aria also had CityCenter's only performance theater, until it closed in 2016 for

3216-464: A group of prominent designers who would work on individual components of CityCenter. Around 100 prospective architects were considered for the project, and this list was gradually narrowed down. The initial team of designers was announced in 2005, and others followed in 2006. Each of the architects were given a wide range of creative freedom, although their projects had to complement each other rather than outdo one another. A 100-unit residential tower with

3350-642: A half share of the Monte Carlo . The company changed its name to MGM Mirage in August 2000. Mirage had also owned a half stake in the Borgata , a planned casino in Atlantic City, in a joint venture managed by Boyd Gaming . Work on the Borgata continued apace, and it would open in July 2003. In 2001 and 2002, following the merger with Mirage, the company explored options for its next major development project, including in

3484-545: A high level of interest among buyers. In 2008, amid the Great Recession, MGM opened a sales office in Dubai to attract international buyers. MGM initially declined buyer requests to lower condo prices in 2009, noting unpredictable economic conditions. Later that year, MGM partnered with PennyMac Financial Services to create a financing program for buyers, helping them close escrow on their units. More than 500 buyers signed up for

3618-457: A high-limit gaming area. Technology was incorporated in the resort's exterior and interior design, specifically for the reduction of energy consumption. For its environmentally friendly design, Aria received LEED Gold certification, becoming the largest hotel in the world to achieve such a feat. Aria's casino is not included in the Gold certification because it allows cigarette smoking. However,

3752-1052: A license to run an online sports betting site in the U.K. It acquired a twenty-five percent stake in a company developing the small Triangle Casino in Bristol , which went on to open its doors in February 2004. It inked deals to build casinos at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London, St James' Park in Newcastle, Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield, the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, Sportcity in Manchester, Glasgow Harbour , King's Waterfront in Liverpool, and at

3886-554: A new real estate investment trust (REIT) with ownership of ten of the company's casinos; the parent company would continue to operate the casinos under a lease agreement. The offering raised $ 1.05 billion, and left MGM Resorts with 76 percent ownership of the REIT. In June 2016, MGM announced a joint venture with Sydell Group to renovate and rebrand the Monte Carlo as the Park MGM, named after

4020-519: A partner on the project. Six workers died during construction, eventually prompting others to walk off the job in June 2008. Construction resumed the next day, after Perini agreed to improved safety demands. Dubai World later threatened to withhold further financing due to cost overruns, before reaching an agreement with MGM. CityCenter was completed at a cost of $ 8.5 billion, making it the most expensive privately funded construction project in U.S. history. Vdara

4154-540: A permanent show at Aria, titled Viva Elvis . It premiered on February 17, 2010 and consisted of music, singers, dancers, acrobats and multimedia components that paid tribute to Presley. The performance theater, the only one at CityCenter, had capacity for 1,840 people. Viva Elvis ended its run on August 31, 2012 due to low ticket sales, and was replaced on November 1, 2012 by Cirque du Soleil's rock opera Zarkana . The show and theater closed in April 2016 to allow for

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4288-401: A plan to place the property under control of a trustee until completion of the licensing process. The FTC approved the merger as predicted, and MGM obtained a $ 7 billion line of credit to finance it. The sale closed on April 25, 2005 for a total of $ 7.9 billion, including $ 3 billion in assumed debt. The Mandalay acquisition made MGM Mirage the largest gaming company in the world, but it

4422-631: A proposed stadium in Salford . The company also signed a $ 490-million deal to acquire Wembley plc, owner of seven greyhound tracks in Britain and four in the United States. The British expansion plans ultimately amounted to nothing. MGM closed its online casino after less than two years, citing uncertainty in American regulations and competition from established British brands. The Wembley acquisition turned into

4556-600: A quarry in nearby Jean, Nevada . CityCenter received mixed reviews when it opened. Architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne opined that CityCenter's designers coated it with "a high-gloss, homogenous and faintly corporate sheen", stating that it is "wrapped in a series of shimmering mirrored-glass packages, making the place from certain angles look like a slightly less buttoned-up version" of Time Warner Center in Manhattan. Paul Goldberger , architecture critic for The New Yorker , questioned MGM's goal in building CityCenter as

4690-408: A residential sales pavilion in January 2007, featuring model units. The temporary structure cost $ 24 million. Preview galleries were also opened at MGM's Bellagio and Mirage resorts. CityCenter would include condo hotel units, giving owners the option to rent them out. Murren believed that the project's residential element would appeal to baby boomers . Gaming analysts expressed skepticism about

4824-470: A result. Architect Alan Hess said, "The entrance has all the pleasantness of an airport terminal. There's a lot of concrete and ramps and other things that turn pedestrians off, and a sense of being channeled into an entryway". Las Vegas architect Joel Bergman called the entrance "cold" and "uninviting". Goldberger wrote that CityCenter "is laid out not for pedestrians but as a machine for moving vast numbers of cars efficiently. There are wide ramps coming off

4958-502: A small restaurant, Breeze Café, which has since closed. In 2012, a new, larger resort sign was added along Interstate 15 , located behind Aria. Another sign, created by YESCO , was erected along the Strip in 2013. Standing 250 feet, it is the tallest sign on the Strip. It includes a 10,000 sq ft (930 m ) LED screen with 11 million pixels. Cirque du Soleil , CKX, Inc. and its subsidiary Elvis Presley Enterprises created

5092-464: A structure that was demolished. CityCenter includes 2,440 condominiums, which were included to take advantage of a condominium boom in Las Vegas . Initial plans called for CityCenter to include 1,650 condo units. By 2006, this had been increased to nearly 2,800 units, following MGM's market research indicating strong demand. MGM formed CityCenter Realty Corporation to oversee condominium sales, and opened

5226-428: A theme. According to César Pelli , "When you don't have a theme, the attraction of the building has to rest in the beauty of the architecture". The design incorporates natural materials such as foliage, glass, wood, and stone. Real and fake trees are located in numerous resort facilities, including some of the restaurants. Interior designer Peter Marino worked on several areas of the resort, including hotel suites and

5360-419: A time when Las Vegas tourism had declined. Initial profits were lower than MGM had hoped, and fine-tuning took place over the next year in response to customer feedback. In 2010, Aria and Vdara launched national advertising campaigns. CityCenter saw improvement by the end of 2012, in part because of reduced hotel rates. One hotel and condominium project, The Harmon , was scheduled to open at the end of 2009 with

5494-548: A twisting shape, designed by James K. M. Cheng , was removed during the design phase for more open space. An office building was also scrapped. A defining feature of CityCenter is the use of glass paneling on each of its towers. The Cosmopolitan resort, located directly north, is sometimes mistaken as part of CityCenter due to its similar design. Visitors have also had difficulty distinguishing CityCenter's towers due to their shared design of glass paneling. The exterior also includes 80,000 sq ft (7,400 m) of stone from

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5628-413: A worker was crushed and killed when caught between the counter-weight system and the track of a crane. The project was nicknamed CityCemetery in response to the deaths. Other practices by workers caused concern, with some drinking before work in violation of Perini's company rules. The deaths at CityCenter – in addition to those at other upcoming Strip resorts – prompted its construction workers to walk off

5762-525: Is located throughout Aria. Hung behind the hotel's check-in desk is Maya Lin 's Silver River , a sculpture of the Colorado River . Made of reclaimed silver, it measures 87 ft (27 m) and weighs 3,700 pounds. Located at the valet area is Vegas , an LED art installation by Jenny Holzer . It measures 280 feet long, 18 feet tall, and features more than 200 " Truisms " by Holzer that scroll by, to be read by guests waiting for their vehicles. Vegas

5896-413: Is one of the largest water walls in the world. Latisse, an indoor water wall made from a series of glass panels, is located at Aria's north entrance. It was designed by Joel Berman and rises 40 feet. Aria opened with a three-story convention center covering 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m ). A wedding chapel was added to the convention center's first floor in 2013. A four-story expansion of

6030-486: Is the only gaming property on-site. It opened on December 16, 2009. Veer Towers , a condominium property, opened on July 15, 2010. CityCenter opened amid the Great Recession , although Baldwin said the project would succeed despite the economic downturn. Murren expected CityCenter to be profitable within five to ten years, and said the complex would appeal to locals in addition to tourists. Mayor Oscar Goodman believed

6164-555: Is the second Cathédrale location, after opening in New York City in 2019. Masa Takayama oversaw two restaurants, including Bar Masa and Shabu. The latter, also known as Shaboo, operated within Bar Masa. Shaboo closed in 2012 and was replaced by a new restaurant-within-a-restaurant from Takayama. Known as Tetsu, it focused on the teppanyaki style of Japanese cooking. Bar Masa and Tetsu closed in 2018 and were replaced by Catch ,

6298-509: The Aria Express , also travels around CityCenter with stops at Bellagio and Park MGM (formerly Monte Carlo). MGM Mirage MGM Resorts International is an American hospitality and entertainment company. It operates resorts in Las Vegas , Massachusetts , Michigan , Mississippi , Maryland , Ohio , New Jersey , Macau , Shanghai , Chengdu , Hangzhou and Sanya , including

6432-586: The Bellagio , Mandalay Bay , MGM Grand and Park MGM . The company began operations in 1987 as MGM Grand, Inc. and became MGM Mirage in 2000, after acquiring Mirage Resorts . In the mid-2000s, growth of its non-gaming (lodging, food, retail) revenue began to outpace gaming receipts and demand for high-rise condominiums was surging, with median property prices in Las Vegas twice the national average. The company shifted its focus from owning and operating resorts and casinos to developing and building real estate in

6566-449: The CityCenter complex, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada . It is owned by The Blackstone Group and operated by MGM Resorts International . Construction began on June 25, 2006, with a design by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects . Aria received LEED Gold certification for its environmentally friendly design, and is the largest hotel in the world to achieve such a feat. It

6700-482: The Clark County Fire Department . Station 32, a $ 28 million facility, opened next to Vdara on December 10, 2009. As of 2013, it was the busiest fire station in Las Vegas, handling many emergencies along the Strip. Several measures were taken by MGM and the county to reduce traffic, including the construction of roundabouts in front of Aria and Vdara that connect to other CityCenter properties. A monorail,

6834-561: The Gold Strike , and properties in Reno ( Circus Circus Reno and a 50 percent stake in the Silver Legacy ) were sold to Eldorado Resorts for $ 72.5 million. In April 2016, MGM sold The Shops at Crystals , the high-end mall in CityCenter, to Invesco Real Estate and Simon Property Group for $ 1.1 billion. In April 2016, MGM held an initial public offering for MGM Growth Properties (MGP),

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6968-405: The Great Recession , which had a negative impact on the resort's revenue. Although it was built as a luxury resort, Aria had to adjust its strategy upon opening and appeal to a lower-income clientele amid the recession. The resort launched a national advertising campaign in 2010. Aria has been operated by MGM since its opening. In 2021, MGM bought out Dubai World's ownership stake in Aria and

7102-540: The Las Vegas , Atlantic City , Chicago , and Macau markets. The 55-acre site of the Boardwalk casino on the Las Vegas Strip was earmarked for a technologically advanced megaresort targeting a Generation X demographic. In Atlantic City, MGM shifted focus from its previously announced boardwalk site to a proposed billion-dollar hotel and casino on a 55-acre tract adjacent to the Borgata, where Wynn had planned to build

7236-688: The MGM Collection With Marriott Bonvoy . The new partnership will see four of MGM's properties fully affiliated with Marriott brands beginning in late 2023. The Bellagio will join The Luxury Collection division of Marriott, the Park MGM will join Marriott's Tribute Portfolio , and the Aria will join Marriott's Autograph Collection, which The Cosmopolitan has been a member of since its opening. In September 2023, MGM's hotel and casino operations were disrupted for several days during

7370-610: The MGM Grand Darwin to Skycity Entertainment for $ 140 million. MGM entered into quiet merger talks with Mandalay Resort Group in early 2004. The potential acquisition would give MGM control of more than half the hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip. Mandalay assets attractive to MGM included low-end casinos like Excalibur and Circus Circus to broaden MGM's "high roller" appeal; the Mandalay Bay Convention Center , which would allow MGM to compete directly with

7504-539: The Primm Valley Resorts were sold for $ 400 million, and the Nevada Landing Hotel and Casino was closed. On April 19, 2007 the company announced that it planned to purchase a 7.6-acre (31,000 m ) site from Concord Wilshire Partners for $ 130 million and a 25.8-acre (104,000 m ) site from Gordon Gaming for $ 444 million. The two parcels give the company complete control of the southwest corner of

7638-750: The San Antonio Stars of the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was moved to Mandalay Bay Events Center and began play as the Las Vegas Aces in 2018. In August 2018, MGM and Hyatt sold the Grand Victoria Casino to Eldorado Resorts for $ 328 million. In January 2019, MGM bought Yonkers Raceway and Empire City Casino in New York from the Rooney family for $ 850 million, and then immediately sold

7772-508: The Sands Expo center in the convention market; and at least two prime developable sites on the Strip. The talks went public in June, when MGM announced an offer worth $ 7.65 billion. Mandalay rejected that offer because of a clause allowing MGM to back out if antitrust regulators demanded the sale of any properties. Analysts speculated that another bidder such as Harrah's or Boyd might enter, but none did, and MGM and Mandalay soon agreed on

7906-487: The Waldorf Astoria name. By 2019, CityCenter had been renamed Aria Campus, after the Aria resort. The "Aria" name has also been applied to the Aria Express monorail, formerly "CityCenter Tram". In 2021, MGM bought out Dubai World's interest for $ 2.1 billion, gaining full ownership of Aria and Vdara, its last remaining properties at CityCenter. MGM then sold the two resorts to The Blackstone Group . The latter leased

8040-541: The 13th floor ( triskaidekaphobia ) and floors 40 through 49 ( tetraphobia ). The second tower is 10 stories shorter than the main one. The hotel contains 4,004 rooms, including 568 suites. Based on room count, Aria is among the largest hotels in Las Vegas. Some of its suites are referred to as Sky Suites, ranging in size from 1,050 to 2,060 sq ft (98 to 191 m ). The hotel includes another room category known as Sky Villas, which range from 2,000 to 7,000 sq ft (190 to 650 m ). A renovation of

8174-489: The 3,756 square feet (349 m ) Gold Lounge by Cirque du Soleil , built to accompany the resort's Viva Elvis show. Gold Lounge's design was inspired by Graceland , the home of Elvis Presley , and it made extensive use of black and gold in its décor. The lounge doubled as a nightclub with DJs playing a variety of music from different decades. Gold Lounge underwent a $ 4 million renovation in 2015. Artwork by several artists, including Tony Cragg and Antony Gormley ,

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8308-514: The Aria Fine Art Collection, it includes work from more than a dozen artists, including Tony Cragg , Claes Oldenburg , and Richard Long . As part of CityCenter, MGM agreed with the county to finance various infrastructure improvements outside of the project's property line. This would include road improvements to handle an increase in traffic coming to CityCenter once it opens. MGM would also build and finance an on-site fire station for

8442-733: The Beau Rivage. In June 2010, MGM Mirage changed its name to "MGM Resorts International", to emphasize the brand's global scope and increased non-gaming strategy. In May 2011 an initial public offering was held for the MGM Macau property through a new holding company, MGM China. MGM retained a 51 percent interest in the company, with Pansy Ho holding a 29 percent stake, and 20 percent sold to public investors for $ 1.5 billion. In January 2013, MGM China received government approval to build its second resort in Macau. In 2013, MGM won state licenses to build

8576-545: The Borgata. At about the same time, New Jersey gambling regulators were evaluating MGM Mirage's suitability to operate casinos in New Jersey, and were unconvinced that MGM Mirage's Macau partner, Pansy Ho, could operate independently from influence of her father, Stanley Ho. The latter was often accused of ties with Chinese organized crime and letting the gangs operate in his casinos' VIP rooms. Faced with not complying with New Jersey gaming regulations, MGM Mirage decided to divest

8710-681: The Chinese island of Hainan was announced in August 1994, but came to nothing. In Darwin, Australia , a lucrative market attracting high rollers from Pacific Rim countries, the company considered building a hotel, but instead bought the Diamond Beach Hotel and Casino , renaming it as the MGM Grand Darwin. MGM announced plans for an Atlantic City casino in July 1996. In Michigan, where voters approved casinos in November 1996, MGM made plans for

8844-605: The Harmon. Perini also filed a mechanic's lien against the project. A coalition – including Perini, subcontractors , and several trade unions – was also formed against MGM. MGM, in part, disputed the case because of defective work on the Harmon. The company also questioned the billing amount and sought a detailed accounting from Perini, seeking to eliminate charges that may have already been paid off. In May 2010, Perini requested Nevada governor Jim Gibbons to open an investigation into MGM's lack of payment and its financial situation, as

8978-430: The Las Vegas Strip, auto turnarounds, and porte cochères—all good for traffic flow but hardly what you would call urban open space. [...] there is no pleasant place to walk, except inside the buildings". A year after CityCenter's opening, MGM added landscaping to the entry area and signs to help guide pedestrians onto the property. CityCenter was expected to be the state's top energy user. From its earliest planning stages,

9112-578: The Le Jardin casino. In the Chicago market, MGM agreed to pay $ 600 million to buy the unfinished Emerald Casino in Rosemont, Illinois , whose investors had been accused of ties to organized crime. The deal was rejected, however, by state gaming regulators, and MGM then backed off its effort, saying that Illinois's casino tax was too high. In Macau, where Stanley Ho 's 40-year government-granted monopoly on gambling

9246-540: The MGM Grand name. A deal was reached for Bally Manufacturing to buy the company; the deal closed in April 1986, and the two casinos were renamed under the Bally's brand. The terms of the sale allowed Kerkorian to retain rights to the MGM Grand name, and plans were announced to offer the stockholders of MGM Grand Hotels shares in a new company that would hold the naming rights. The company now known as MGM Resorts International

9380-668: The MGM Grand, the company acquired an option to buy an 18-acre site across the street from the project. Gary Primm of Primadonna Resorts approached MGM president Bob Maxey in 1994 with an idea for the site: a casino recreating the New York skyline. A joint venture was formed between the two companies, and construction began in March 1995. Completed at a cost of $ 460 million, the New York-New York Hotel and Casino opened in January 1997. With New York-New York under development, MGM Grand made moves to expand in several other markets. An exploratory agreement to develop two casinos on

9514-594: The Marina Bay site. Their bid advanced to the final stage against three competitors, and was seen as the favorite to win. The government awarded the license, however, to Las Vegas Sands , citing its strength in the meetings and conventions sector. In 2007, MGM Mirage disposed of some outlying properties in Southern Nevada. The two Laughlin casinos (the Colorado Belle and Edgewater ) were sold for $ 200 million,

9648-516: The Nevada–California state line, in addition to full control of New York-New York. In February 2000, MGM Grand made an unsolicited offer of $ 17 a share to buy Mirage Resorts , which had floundered due to disappointing results at its new Beau Rivage and Bellagio resorts. Analysts expected a protracted battle, with Mirage founder Steve Wynn seen as unwilling to give up control but under pressure from institutional investors. Mirage rejected

9782-522: The PokerGO Studio include the Super High Roller Bowl , Poker Masters , U.S. Poker Open , Poker After Dark , and High Stakes Poker . The studio is open to the public on an event-by-event basis. Aria's hotel includes two curvilinear glass towers . The main tower is 50 stories, although the top floor is labeled "61". Because of bad-luck superstitions among gamblers, the tower skips

9916-580: The Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard intersection. When combined with underused parts of the Circus Circus site, the company will have a 68-acre (280,000 m ) site for future development. The Concord site had been the proposed location for the Maxim Casino . On August 22, 2007, Dubai World said it would buy a 9.5 percent stake in MGM for about $ 2.4 billion. It would also invest about $ 2.7 billion to acquire

10050-485: The Sky Suites and Sky Villas was unveiled at the end of 2021. Aria opened with more than a dozen restaurants, including Jean-Georges Steakhouse by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten . It is one of only nine restaurants in the United States that serve genuine Kobe beef . Other restaurants at opening included American Fish by chef Michael Mina , and a Chinese restaurant known as Blossom. Aria also featured Lemongrass,

10184-515: The Strip: "Its design demands that you seek it out, where other resorts leap unabashedly into the Vegas spotlight whenever possible". CityCenter's main entrance along the Strip consists of a multi-lane roadway, while pedestrians enter along narrow walkways and overhead bridges. Architects were critical of the entry design, viewing it as bland and unattractive, while many pedestrians chose to pass by CityCenter as

10318-541: The adjacent dining and entertainment district, The Park, that opened in April 2016. In August 2016, MGM bought out Boyd Gaming's interest in the Borgata for $ 900 million, and then sold the property to MGP for $ 1.2 billion and leased it back for $ 100 million per year. In 2017, MGM launched two online ventures under the PlayMGM brand: an online sportsbook in Nevada, and an online casino in New Jersey. In October 2017, MGM purchased

10452-612: The company announced plans for a $ 700-million Hollywood-themed complex, including a 4,000-room hotel and a theme park. The Desert Inn site was initially considered as a location for the project, but within weeks the location was finalized as the Marina Hotel and Casino and the Tropicana Country Club , which MGM Grand acquired for $ 93 million plus $ 30 million in stock. The company put the Desert Inn up for sale to focus efforts on

10586-422: The company filed its annual report stating that "there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern," and "it cannot provide assurance that its business would generate sufficient cash flow from operation." Starting on April 6, 2009 news reports surfaced that MGM Mirage had hired investment firm Morgan Stanley to assist the company in finding possible buyers for the MGM Grand Detroit and

10720-596: The company split into two forming MGM Growth Properties , a real estate company, while MGM Resorts shifted to operating properties. Today, MGM Resorts is the largest casino company in the world by revenue, making $ 13.13 billion USD in revenue in 2022. The company's background can be traced to 1969, when airline and casino tycoon Kirk Kerkorian bought a controlling stake in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) film studio. In 1970 and 1971, Kerkorian struggled with debt from his acquisitions of MGM and Western Airlines , and

10854-421: The company was struggling amid the recession. By that time, various subcontractors had filed more than 430 liens . MGM began settling with subcontractors later that year. Some analysts believed that construction costs and issues would have been managed better if CityCenter had been built in phases. However, Murren said he was against such an idea: "How do you create an environment in phases? What do you do? Create

10988-526: The convention center expansion. Early guest reviews were generally negative, with wide-ranging complaints concerning slow check-in, the dark casino design, high-priced amenities, malfunctioning room electronics, and poor service. In a positive review, Fred A. Bernstein of The New York Times praised the hotel's technological features and luxury. He further wrote, "The hotel is huge, and it feels that way, but thanks to thoughtful design, it also feels luxurious and, at times, even cozy". The negative reception

11122-675: The convention center was completed in February 2018, after nearly two years of construction. It cost $ 170 million and added 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m ), taking the place of the resort's showroom. When Aria opened, it included the largest spa of any MGM resort. The 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m ) spa and salon covers two floors, and a coed balcony attached to the spa overlooks an outdoor infinity-edge pool. Aria's pool deck measures 215,000 sq ft (20,000 m ) and features acacia, bottle, palm and pine trees. Liquid Pool Lounge, opened in March 2010, includes several pools and DJ entertainment. Liquid Pool also opened with

11256-454: The edges of the casino floor and skylights are part of the ceiling in the high-limit gaming area, differing from traditional casino design which historically omits natural light. Aria's poker room contains 24 tables. The Ivey Room, named after poker player Phil Ivey , opened in May 2010 as an exclusive one-table high-limit poker room. It gave high roller players direct access to the cashier's cage and 24-hour table-side dining, and would be

11390-413: The failure for both of the casino operators to adequately secure their data constituted breach of contract. In 2007, MGM Hospitality was established to operate hotels, resorts and residences in key destinations around the globe using the brands of Bellagio , MGM Grand and Skylofts. Aria Resort and Casino Aria Resort and Casino is a luxury resort and casino , and the primary property at

11524-405: The first Thai cuisine restaurant to be opened on the Strip. Julian Serrano Tapas is a tapas restaurant named after its chef , and Esquire included it among the "20 Best New Restaurants in 2010". Another restaurant, Sage, featured chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling murals, and a seasonal menu. It was operated by chef Shawn McClain, who also opened Five50 Pizza Bar at the resort in 2013. It

11658-439: The first of its kind for the area. According to Murren, "No one has embarked on a development [of this scale] in this town. It's hard to equate it to anything. We are going to be leaders in the reshaping of the valley into a global market". MGM announced the project, known then as Project CityCenter, on November 9, 2004. The company had spent eight months working on development plans for the site. The mixed-use project would include

11792-463: The former Harmon site in 2021. Later that year, MGM bought out Dubai World's ownership stake, gaining full control of Aria and Vdara, its last remaining properties at the complex. Both were sold in 2021, although MGM continues to operate them. CityCenter was conceived by Jim Murren , president and chief financial officer of MGM Mirage , while development was overseen by MGM executive Bobby Baldwin . MGM had considered several different themed hotels for

11926-442: The highly profitable Borgata in order to continue pursuing the even more lucrative Chinese market. MGM Mirage subsequently transferred its 50% share in the Borgata to a divestiture trust through which it received all benefit of the ownership. The trust was responsible for selling MGM's interest within 30 months, although MGM had the right to direct the trustee during the first 18 months. On December 16, 2008, MGM Mirage announced

12060-399: The idea because of the alleged involvement of organized crime triads in his casinos. Another possibility emerged when the government allowed the three gaming concessionaires to each sell a sub-concession. In June 2004, MGM formed a joint venture with Pansy Ho , Stanley's daughter, to develop a casino-hotel under a sub-concession from Stanley. Despite initial concerns about whether Pansy Ho

12194-485: The increased budget. In 2007, Dubai World became a joint partner in the project. Numerous last-minute design changes took place during construction, continually raising the budget. By 2008, the project's cost had increased to more than $ 8 billion. The budget continued to fluctuate, reaching $ 9.2 billion later that year, before settling at $ 8.5 billion. It is the most expensive privately funded construction project in U.S. history. In March 2009, Dubai World sued MGM, accusing

12328-406: The job at midnight on June 3, 2008, protesting safety conditions and shutting down construction. The Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council demanded that Perini take three steps before work could resume: agree to pay for additional safety training for workers, allow national union researchers to examine root causes of safety problems on the site, and allow union leaders full access to

12462-488: The land and buildings to MGP for $ 625 million, and leased them back for $ 50 million per year. In 2019, MGM sold two resorts on the Las Vegas strip: Bellagio and Circus Circus. They sold their real estate assets of Bellagio to Blackstone Group while selling Circus Circus to Phil Ruffin. In 2020, they sold their real estate assets of MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay to a joint venture between Blackstone and MGP. In 2021, MGM bought 50% of Dubai World’s share of CityCenter and sold

12596-461: The latter of mismanaging development at CityCenter, resulting in the cost overruns. The lawsuit placed the project in financial jeopardy, as a $ 220 million construction payment was due later that month and Dubai World declined to fund it. MGM covered Dubai World's portion of the payment, and the two came to an agreement the following month which would ensure the completion of CityCenter. MGM had contacted Nevada U.S. senator Harry Reid for help in saving

12730-465: The leisure and gaming industry—launching the massive CityCenter mixed-use project, which was at the time of its construction the world's largest construction site and ranks as one of the most expensive real estate projects in history. City Center's development coincided with the global financial crisis , causing more than $ 1 billion in writedowns in its valuation. Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian and his Tracinda Corporation were, until 2009,

12864-584: The location for the highest stakes games at Aria. In February 2019, it was renamed Table 1. The Aria poker room also hosts events for the World Poker Tour (WPT). In July 2014, the inaugural WPT500 was held at Aria and attracted 3,599 entrants. It was held around the same time each year until 2019. During season 16 (XVI) of the WPT, Aria would host two additional events: the inaugural WPT Bobby Baldwin Classic and

12998-420: The majority shareholders of MGM Mirage; Kerkorian was the former owner of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio, from which MGM Grand derived its name. Following a $ 1 billion stock offering by MGM Mirage amidst the global credit crunch, Tracinda's shares were diluted from 53.8 percent to 39 percent. On June 15, 2010, shareholders voted for MGM Mirage to change its name to "MGM Resorts International". In 2015,

13132-438: The nearby Vdara hotel, gaining full ownership of both. That year, MGM sold the two properties for $ 3.89 billion in cash to The Blackstone Group , which leased them back to MGM for an annual rent of $ 215 million. Aria was designed by Pelli Clark Pelli Architects , which spent two months with MGM discussing the project's design. Aria was the firm's first casino design. Unlike other Las Vegas resorts, Aria does not feature

13266-628: The new project, but found no outside bidders, and agreed to sell it to Tracinda for $ 130 million. Construction on the MGM Grand Las Vegas and the MGM Grand Adventures theme park began in October 1991, and the property opened in December 1993 at a final cost of $ 1 billion. The park permanently closed in 2002 due to a lack of interest. The company moved its headquarters from Beverly Hills to Las Vegas in July 1992. During construction of

13400-626: The offer, but Wynn met with Kerkorian the next day and named a price of $ 21 a share. The companies agreed on the higher price, for a total of $ 4.4 billion plus $ 2 billion in assumed debt. The merger closed in May 2000, giving MGM ownership of the Mirage , Treasure Island , Bellagio, Boardwalk , and Golden Nugget casinos in Las Vegas, the Golden Nugget in Laughlin, and the Beau Rivage in Mississippi, and

13534-422: The only casino at CityCenter. Its 150,000 sq ft (14,000 m ) of gaming space features slot machines , table games , and a race and sports book . The gaming machines are controlled and monitored by a 3,000 sq ft (280 m ) data center and are changed to play the most popular games based on real-time data collected about the performance of each machine. Exterior windows are present along

13668-530: The parking garage and CityCenter. The Boardwalk was closed in January 2006, and imploded four months later to make way for CityCenter. Construction of CityCenter began on June 25, 2006, with a concrete pour forming the foundation for the future Aria Resort and Casino . The construction site was divided into three blocks, each with their own team of workers. With no on-site storage, the construction schedule and delivery of materials had to be carefully planned. Six deaths occurred during construction. In February 2007,

13802-420: The poor economic conditions. CityCenter features numerous restaurants, many overseen by celebrity chefs. The complex also features five water attractions, designed by WET and located at Aria and Crystals. CityCenter opened with more than 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m) of convention and meeting space, much of it located at Aria. CityCenter's only performance theater, located at Aria, closed in 2016 for

13936-427: The program. MGM also agreed to lower condo prices by 30 percent. In addition, buyers at Vdara were offered cheaper units at Veer Towers instead. Condo prices at CityCenter ranged from $ 500,000 to $ 9 million. Sales began closing escrow in January 2010, although initial closings were low. Within three months, only 25 unit sales had been finalized out of 2,400. Sales picked up later in the year, beating expectations despite

14070-416: The project was intended to be environmentally friendly. Much of the debris from the imploded Boardwalk hotel was recycled as building material for CityCenter, including its foundation. All of CityCenter's original buildings, with the exception of the Harmon, received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2009. Forest Stewardship Council also named it the best commercial project of

14204-417: The project would help bring tourism to downtown Las Vegas . Analysts were mixed as to whether CityCenter would help boost the local economy. CityCenter sought to fill 12,000 job positions ahead of its opening, and more than 100,000 people applied as a result of the recession. Approximately half of the work force would consist of transfers from other MGM properties. The project added around 5,900 hotel rooms at

14338-598: The project. Reid, in turn, contacted bank CEOs and urged them to loan MGM money to continue construction. The first of CityCenter's features, the Vdara condo-hotel, opened to the public on December 2, 2009, following a VIP event the night before. A retail mall, Crystals , opened on December 3, and the Mandarin Oriental hotel opened a day later. The openings were part of a three-day celebration marking CityCenter's debut. The project's primary attraction, Aria Resort and Casino ,

14472-452: The properties to Tsogo Sun in November 2001. Since the initiation of New York-New York, analysts had speculated that MGM Grand or Primadonna would buy out the other's interest in the project. Instead of making such a cash-intensive purchase, however, MGM agreed to buy Primadonna outright for $ 276 million in stock plus $ 336 million in assumed debt. The merger closed in March 1999, giving MGM ownership of three casinos and two golf courses at

14606-427: The property, including its convention center and restaurants. Rooms automatically adjust curtains, turn off unused lights and electronics, and regulate the temperature when a guest enters or leaves. In 2010, Aria was described by Popular Mechanics as possibly "the most technologically advanced hotel ever built". Aria has numerous features spread across 6,074,474 sq ft (564,337.1 m ). Aria includes

14740-621: The real estate assets of Aria and Vdara to Blackstone and later purchased the operating assets of Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and later sold the Mirage to Hard Rock International . Also in 2021, MGM would sell the Las Vegas Aces to Mark Davis , owner of the Las Vegas Raiders . In August 2020, MGM cut 18,000 job positions as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic . The job cuts represent one fourth of its workforce, which before

14874-403: The resort has an advanced air filtration system which eliminates smoke on the casino floor. In addition, blackjack tables had built-in air curtains to deal with smoke and protect dealers. The tables expel air which serves as a barrier between dealers and players. Upon opening, Aria was among the world's most technologically advanced resorts, with features such as touchscreens located throughout

15008-416: The resorts back to MGM, which continues managing the resorts. MGM also sold the Harmon site in 2021, to developers Brett Torino and Flag Luxury Group. A four-story shopping mall, 63 , opened on the site in 2023. CityCenter's master plan was designed by Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects , which spent 20 months working on the project. Unlike recent Las Vegas resorts which featured a theme, CityCenter

15142-457: The rest of CityCenter. However, structural defects were discovered the year before, leading to litigation with Perini, as well as the project's cancellation and eventual demolition in 2015. Numerous other construction discrepancies were found throughout CityCenter, and MGM said they would be corrected by the time of opening. In March 2010, Perini sued MGM and Dubai World for $ 492 million in unpaid construction costs, relating primarily to its work on

15276-474: The sale of its Las Vegas Treasure Island resort and casino to billionaire Phil Ruffin . The sale was completed on March 20, 2009 for $ 600 million in cash plus a $ 175 million promissory note. On March 23, 2009 Dubai World and Infinity World announced that they had filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court seeking to be released from their CityCenter joint venture agreement with MGM Mirage after

15410-610: The season-ending $ 25,000 buy-in WPT Tournament of Champions. In season 17 (XVII) , the WPT ARIA Summer Championship replaced the WPT Bobby Baldwin Classic. In May 2018, Poker Central opened the PokerGO Studio at Aria. The 10,000 sq ft (930 m ) facility was built to host live poker events distributed on the poker streaming service PokerGO . Notable poker tournaments and cash games held at

15544-599: The site in the early 2000s, but none attracted high enthusiasm. The company later sought out a unique project idea for the land, different to anything that had been done before in Las Vegas. Murren began considering the concept of a mixed-use project in 2003 and presented his idea to MGM's board in March 2004. Kirk Kerkorian , majority shareholder in MGM, was convinced of the project's viability early on. Other board members were intrigued by Murren's proposal, but also skeptical. With CityCenter, Murren sought to create an urban gathering place for Las Vegas. The large project would be

15678-596: The site. Much of the land for CityCenter had previously been occupied by the golf course for the Dunes hotel-casino, which closed in 1993. At the time of CityCenter's announcement, most of the site was now being used as employee parking for the Bellagio. Before construction could begin on CityCenter, a new parking garage had to be constructed for Bellagio employees along Frank Sinatra Drive. Early site work had begun by August 2005, with Perini Building Company as general contractor for

15812-632: The start of the pandemic was 68,000. MGM lobbied the Trump administration against giving federal approval for a casino operated by two native tribes in East Windsor, Connecticut. The casino would have provided competition to a MGM casino across the border in Massachusetts. In July 2023, MGM Resorts announced an agreement with Marriott International to bring its 17 properties within Marriott's global reservations system and its Bonvoy loyalty program, creating

15946-399: The success of CityCenter's condominiums, citing the large number of residential units already planned for the Strip. By 2007, many condo projects in Las Vegas had been canceled as the boom came to an end. As a result, MGM installed a live webcam overlooking the CityCenter construction site, hoping to convince perspective buyers of the project's viability. Initial condo sales at CityCenter showed

16080-488: The two hotel-casinos accounted for most of MGM's income, and the company announced a plan to split itself in two. The next year, the film studio was spun off as a new company, while the original company, renamed as MGM Grand Hotels Inc., retained the two hotel-casinos. Kerkorian held a 47 percent stake in both companies. In 1985, Kerkorian began seeking a buyer for MGM Grand Hotels, to allow him to concentrate on running United Artists and on developing new properties under

16214-629: The work site. An agreement was reached within a day, putting an end to the walkout. However, the work stoppage prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to launch an investigation into the project's construction safety on June 9, 2008. As of August 2008, the project had 7,700 construction workers, operating in shifts on a 24-hour basis. As a result of delays, MGM assigned its executive construction manager, Tishman Construction Corporation, to aid Perini starting in late 2008. At that time, CityCenter had up to 9,500 construction workers at

16348-518: The year in its designing and building awards. Among CityCenter's environmental features is an 8.5-megawatt natural gas cogeneration plant. It is located on-site and provides partial electricity to CityCenter. The complex also opened with a 26-limo fleet, serving Aria and Vdara, that ran on compressed natural gas. CityCenter contains approximately 18-million sq ft (1,700,000 m) of space across 67 acres (27 ha). It includes approximately 6,800 rooms and condominiums.   indicates

16482-474: Was a good nightclub. It wasn’t a great nightclub, and it got to the point where we needed to close it and create a great nightclub". Haze closed in November 2014, making way for a new nightclub known as Jewel, designed by Rockwell Group and operated by Hakkasan Group. Jewel opened in May 2016. It is small compared to other Las Vegas resort nightclubs, with capacity for 1,923 people. It includes five VIP suites, each with their own theme. Aria also included

16616-462: Was added to brighten the dark valet space. Aria features three water attractions designed by WET . A traffic circle is located in front of Aria's south entrance, with a fountain in the center. Known as Lumia, the fountain features programmable water streams which collide with each other, changing colors in the process. Also located near the south entrance is Focus, a curved water wall made of stone imported from India. At 270 feet long, Focus

16750-463: Was also among the most technologically advanced hotels in the world at the time of its opening on December 16, 2009. It was developed as a joint venture between MGM and Dubai World , before being sold to Blackstone in 2021. Aria's hotel includes two curvilinear glass towers, rising up to 50 stories. The hotel has 4,004 rooms and suites, and is a recipient of the AAA Five Diamond Award and

16884-535: Was coming to an end, MGM submitted a bid for one of three available gaming concessions, but it was not selected, losing out to Ho, Las Vegas Sands , and Wynn Resorts . MGM made moves into the United Kingdom market after a 2001 government report called for loosening of the country's gambling regulations. It opened an online casino, playmgmmirage.com, licensed in the Isle of Man , a British dependency, and it applied for

17018-403: Was designed as a modern urban district, similar to Greenwich Village or Haight-Ashbury . Speaking about CityCenter in 2004, Murren said, "I think the era of themes have come and gone in Las Vegas. I think the word is 'feel.' It will have an urban feel that is contemporary, modern and forward-looking". The project was described as "a city within a city". According to Murren, "The great thing about

17152-499: Was forced to sell a majority of his casino company, International Leisure, to Hilton Hotels at a steep discount. When the Las Vegas Hilton , the casino he had built, subsequently became the most successful hotel in Las Vegas, Kerkorian was inspired to lead the studio into the gambling industry. It opened the original MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (now Horseshoe Las Vegas) in 1973. The MGM Grand Reno followed in 1978. By 1979,

17286-458: Was formed in 1986 as Grand Name Co. as a subsidiary of Kerkorian's Tracinda Corporation . It was renamed in 1987 as MGM Grand, Inc. The company's first venture was MGM Grand Air , a luxury airline offering service between New York and Los Angeles, which launched in September 1987. The company also made an offer to take over financially struggling Pan American World Airways , but this offer

17420-418: Was named for its happy hour and the temperature at which its pizza is cooked. McClain departed Aria in 2020. Sage did not reopen, following COVID-19 -related closures earlier that year, and Five50 was renamed Moneyline Pizza & Bar. In the former Sage space, Tao Group opened Cathédrale in 2023. The Mediterranean restaurant seats 266 people and was designed by Rockwell Group , with artwork by Vhils . It

17554-490: Was rejected by Pan Am's board in November 1987. In August 1987, MGM Grand bid $ 152 million for the bankrupt Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas, but was beat out by Japanese billionaire Masao Nangaku . Instead, the company acquired the Desert Inn and Sands casinos in February 1988 from Summa Corporation for $ 167 million. The Sands was sold to Sheldon Adelson 's Interface Group for $ 110 million in April 1989. In September 1989,

17688-539: Was subject to her father's influence, the Nevada Gaming Commission eventually approved the partnership. Construction of the MGM Grand Macau began in June 2005. The property opened in December 2007, completed at a cost of $ 1.25 billion. In 2004, MGM solidified its plans for the Boardwalk site on the Strip, announcing Project CityCenter , an $ 8-billion high-density project including hotels, condominiums,

17822-482: Was surpassed just two months later when Harrah's Entertainment acquired Caesars Entertainment in a deal that had been spurred on by news of the MGM-Mandalay merger. Despite MGM's initial failure to win a gaming concession in Macau, the company had remained interested in the burgeoning gaming market. Rumors of a possible partnership with Stanley Ho were reported in 2003, but Nevada gaming regulators informally vetoed

17956-458: Was the first property to open at CityCenter, debuting on December 2, 2009. Other properties opened later that month, while Veer Towers was completed in 2010. Aria is considered the central feature of CityCenter, and it includes the only casino at the complex. By 2019, CityCenter had been renamed Aria Campus. MGM has sold off several of its CityCenter properties, including Crystals in 2016, the Mandarin Oriental hotel (now Waldorf Astoria) in 2018, and

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