Park MGM
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox casino Park MGM, formerly Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, is a megaresort hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International. It was developed by Mirage Resorts and Circus Circus Enterprises, both later acquired by MGM.
The resort opened as the Monte Carlo on June 21, 1996. Its design was based on the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco. In January 2008, a fire occurred on the rooftop of the 32-story hotel. The fire, caused by welding, forced the evacuation and closure of the Monte Carlo, and 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation. The resort lost nearly $100 million because of the fire, including damage and lost revenue from the closure. It reopened three weeks later. The top floor suffered water damage and received a total renovation, reopening as Hotel32 in August 2009. It operated as a hotel-within-a-hotel, offering 50 rooms.
In June 2016, MGM announced that it would renovate the Monte Carlo and rebrand it as Park MGM, with the name change taking effect on May 9, 2018. The two-year renovation, costing more than $550 million, concluded in December 2018. Hotel32 was removed, and the top four floors of the tower were rebranded as NoMad Las Vegas, a new hotel-within-a-hotel. Park MGM includes a Template:Convert casino and 2,700 rooms, not counting another 293 at NoMad, which brings the total to 2,993.
Magician Lance Burton served as the Monte Carlo's longtime headliner, entertaining in the 1,200-seat Lance Burton Theatre from 1996 to 2010. A new venue, the Park Theater, opened in 2016 and has since been renamed Dolby Live. The theater seats 5,200, and was built on the former site of the Lance Burton Theatre.
History
Park MGM originally operated as the Monte Carlo. A portion of the resort's land was once occupied by the Desert Rose motel, opened in 1953.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Bloom>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Another portion of the future resort site was occupied by a golf course, built in the 1960s, for the nearby Dunes hotel-casino.<ref name=Fossum>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Elko/>
Monte Carlo (1996–2018)
Mirage Resorts purchased the Dunes and its golf course in November 1992, and closed them both a couple months later.<ref name=Fossum/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 1994, Mirage and Gold Strike Resorts announced a joint venture to build a then-unnamed resort on part of the former golf course.<ref name=Elko>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Desert Rose was also purchased and demolished to make way for the resort.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Multiple image Ground was broken in March 1995. Circus Circus Enterprises acquired Gold Strike three months later and took over its role of managing the project.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gold Strike had hoped to name the project the Grand Victoria, the same name as the casino being developed by the company in Illinois, but that idea was discarded because of potential confusion with the MGM Grand.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Victoria" and "Victoria Bay" were reported as likely names.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Details about the property were revealed in July 1995, including that it would be named the Monte Carlo and feature Belle Époque architecture, based on the unaffiliated Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Monte Carlo opened to the public at midnight on June 21, 1996, following an invitation-only pre-opening celebration, including a fireworks show.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Dazzled>Template:Cite news</ref> Originally proposed as a $250 million project,<ref name=Elko/> the final cost ballooned up to $344 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The resort aimed for mass appeal, offering European luxury rooms to middle-income guests,<ref name=Dazzled/><ref name=Target/><ref name=Taste/> whereas the Monte Carlo in Monaco is tailored to high rollers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Las Vegas property became popular among tourists as a second-choice hotel, handling overflow from other resorts.<ref name=Coped>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2009, the Monte Carlo print advertising campaign featured intentionally misspelled French words ("tray sheek") coupled with glamorous images. The campaign's tagline was "Unpretentiously luxurious".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Mirage and Circus Circus split the resort's profits, and operations were overseen by the latter company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> MGM Grand, Inc. acquired Mirage in 2000, forming MGM Mirage and acquiring 50-percent ownership of the Monte Carlo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> MGM acquired the other half in 2005, after purchasing Mandalay Resort Group (formerly Circus Circus Enterprises).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2008 fire
The rooftop of the hotel's 32-story tower contains most of the resort's air-conditioning, as well as electrical equipment.<ref name=Friess/> An architectural facade, measuring three stories, was built along the top of the tower to hide the rooftop machinery. The facade was part of the resort's original construction. It was made with a foam known as exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS),<ref name=Kanigher/> which is widely used, including on other resorts along the Las Vegas Strip.<ref name=Adorns>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A three-alarm rooftop fire began on January 25, 2008,<ref name=Hot>Template:Cite news</ref> shortly before 11:00 a.m.<ref name=Duval>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately 120 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was put out by 12:15 p.m.<ref name=Thousands/><ref name=Whit/> Certain parts of the fire could not be reached from the roof; in these cases, firefighters instead had to break open hotel-room windows to reach the flames.<ref name=Coped/>
The Monte Carlo had been occupied by approximately 5,000 guests and 950 employees when the fire broke out.<ref name=Thousands/> The entire resort was evacuated and closed indefinitely until repairs could take place.<ref name=Whit>Template:Cite news</ref> Thirteen people were treated for smoke inhalation.<ref name=Whit/> The evacuation process was generally praised by experts.<ref name=Whit/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Local fire safety protocols, adopted after the 1980 MGM Grand fire, were credited for the organized evacuation and minimal injuries.<ref name=Friess>Template:Cite news</ref> However, some guests complained of a delay in initiating the evacuations,<ref name=Thousands/> and others said they initially did not hear any fire alarms; the alarms only activate on floors where smoke is detected, as well as the floors immediately above and below.<ref name=Whit/><ref name=Coped/> Evacuated hotel guests were offered accommodations at MGM's other Strip properties.<ref name=Friess/><ref name=Thousands/>
Much of the fire damage occurred to the hotel tower's upper exterior,<ref name=Thousands>Template:Cite news</ref> which was left blackened.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Large chunks of EIFS fell from the tower;<ref name=Adorns/> the structure was built according to the 1991 Uniform Building Code, which allowed a thicker amount of foam compared with modern standards.<ref name=Adorns/><ref name=Whit/><ref name=Kanigher>Template:Cite news</ref> A later analysis found that a non-approved resin had been used in two areas along the roof during initial construction, which helped spread the fire at a faster rate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Many rooms also suffered water damage and had to be stripped down for repair work,<ref name=Rearview/> which began a day after the fire.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Welding had been taking place on the roof and was the cause of the fire. A team of contractors had been cutting steel for a walkway along the roof's edge, to be installed for window-washing.<ref name=Duval/><ref name=Accidental/><ref name=Morrison/> Pieces of molten steel fell onto the roof, sparking a fire which spread to the facade.<ref name=Kanigher/><ref name=Accidental>Template:Cite news</ref> According to fire officials, the workers had failed to acquire a permit for their work and failed to use a slag mat, designed to catch molten drippings.<ref name=Accidental/><ref name=Morrison>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Hot/> The contracting company said its welders had a permit and worked safely and responsibly.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Because the fire was determined to be accidental, no citations were issued by the fire department.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=OSHA>Template:Cite news</ref> The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the contractor $18,000, alleging it broke nine workplace safety laws. However, the agency's review board overturned nearly all of the citations, while acknowledging that the contractor failed to take necessary precautions to prevent the fire spread.<ref name=OSHA/>
Revenue losses were initially estimated at $1.1 million for each day of the Monte Carlo's closure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The resort ultimately lost nearly $100 million because of the fire, including damage and lost revenue from the closure.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, company losses were minimal due to MGM's portfolio of Strip properties.<ref name=Rearview/> The fire also had no negative impact on other businesses along the Strip, which operated as normal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Monte Carlo partially reopened on February 15, 2008, and much of the property was operational within a week.<ref name=Rearview>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Park MGM (2018–present)
In 2015, construction was underway on MGM's nearby T-Mobile Arena. The Monte Carlo was viewed as the gateway to the venue, prompting MGM to consider renaming the resort, which was seen as underutilized.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Park, a dining and entertainment district,<ref name=Transform/> opened in April 2016. Built in between the Monte Carlo and New York-New York, it serves as the Strip entrance to T-Mobile Arena. At the time, MGM chairman and chief executive officer Jim Murren said about the Monte Carlo, "We are not going to name it something from somewhere else. Those days are over. This is Las Vegas; we are at the top of the list of entertainment cities. We are not second to anybody. We're not going to have a property themed after a city from a far-away place."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In June 2016, MGM announced that the Monte Carlo would be rebranded as Park MGM, a reference to The Park. The resort received a two-year renovation which took place in phases, allowing the property to remain open.<ref name=Transform/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The name change took effect on May 9, 2018,<ref name=Old/><ref name=Officially>Template:Cite news</ref> although construction remained ongoing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Renovations took place throughout the entire resort,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and cost more than $550 million,<ref name=Officially/> before concluding in December 2018.<ref name=Wrap/>
During 2016, ownership of the Monte Carlo and other MGM properties was transferred to MGM Growth Properties (later acquired by Vici Properties in 2022), while MGM Resorts continued to operate it under a lease agreement.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Nevada casinos were ordered to close in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the state. Nevada casinos began reopening a few months later. When Park MGM reopened on September 30, 2020, it instituted a non-smoking policy, becoming the only casino resort on the Strip to be smoke-free.<ref name=CNN>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Sole>Template:Cite news</ref> This was done to attract a non-smoking clientele who dislike the cigarette smoke that is typically associated with casinos.<ref name=Sole/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The timing for such a decision was considered appropriate, as there was support for smoke-free policies amid the pandemic.<ref name=Sole/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The non-smoking policy had previously been considered two years earlier, until MGM passed on the idea. Smoking is still permitted in designated outdoor areas.<ref name=Sole/>
Features
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Park MGM includes a Template:Convert casino.<ref>Template:Cite web Listed as "Monte Carlo".</ref> Upon its initial opening in 1996, it featured 2,200 slot machines, 95 table games, a high-limit gaming area, a race and sports book, and a bingo room with seating for 550.<ref name=Target>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Taste>Template:Cite news</ref>
The resort interior included the Street of Dreams, a French-themed area featuring cobblestone walkways, gas lights, and gargoyles. The property featured Template:Convert of retail space divided into three sections, including the Street of Dreams.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The facade along the Strip featured fountains, staircases and arches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was removed in 2013, making way for restaurant space.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The resort's pool area included a wave pool and lazy river.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The CityCenter Tram was added in 2009, connecting Monte Carlo with two other MGM properties, CityCenter and the Bellagio.<ref name=Born/> The poker room was closed in 2017, as the Bellagio and CityCenter already offered such facilities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As Park MGM, the resort updated its sports book to resemble a sports bar and offer food.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The updated property also added Template:Convert of convention space.<ref name=Old/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2018, Houston Hospitality opened On the Record,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> an Template:Convert speakeasy and nightclub.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has capacity for approximately 1,000 people,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and includes a double-decker bus converted into a DJ booth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, restaurateur Bricia Lopez opened Mama Rabbit, a bar specializing in tequila and mezcal. The name is a reference to Mayahuel, a female deity who is mother to a group of rabbits known as the Centzon Tōtōchtin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hotels
The Monte Carlo opened with 3,014 rooms,<ref name=Target/> and now has 2,700 as Park MGM.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ShowsHow>Template:Cite news</ref>
The property has featured a hotel-within-a-hotel on two occasions. Following the 2008 fire, the 32nd floor was stripped down in order to repair water damage. The entire floor was renovated and rebranded as Template:Visible anchor.<ref name=Boutique>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A renovation of the floor had already been planned at the time of the fire, and the incident prompted a complete rebuild.<ref name=Born/>
Hotel32 opened on August 10, 2009,<ref name=Boutique/><ref name=Born/> and was aimed at a higher-end clientele compared to the Monte Carlo, with room rates going up to $6,000 per night.<ref name=Hodge/> The hotel had 50 rooms, including suites and penthouses. Rooms featured an assistant, limo service, and Wii gaming consoles.<ref name=Boutique/><ref name=Born>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The floor also included Lounge32, overlooking CityCenter.<ref name=Born/> Hotel32 was removed during the resort's conversion into Park MGM.<ref name=Transform>Template:Cite news</ref>
As part of the Park MGM project, the top four floors were rebranded as Template:Visible anchor through a partnership with the Sydell Group,<ref name=Old>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=ShowsHow/> which owned the NoMad hotel in New York City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Discussions with Sydell had been ongoing for three years before the partnership was announced in 2016.<ref name=Transform/> NoMad Las Vegas had a soft opening on October 12, 2018, and most of its amenities were fully operational a month later.<ref name=Wrap>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Chic/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The Park MGM property has a total of 2,993 rooms,<ref name=CNN/> including 293 at NoMad Las Vegas.<ref name=Chic>Template:Cite news</ref> The latter is considered separate from Park MGM, with its own lobby and pool. NoMad rooms were designed to resemble urban apartments, and are higher priced compared with those at Park MGM.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The hotel includes a ground level casino, bar, and restaurant. The NoMad's casino features the only high-limit gaming area on the property, and a Tiffany glass ceiling was retained from when the area operated as part of the Monte Carlo.<ref name=Chic/>
Restaurants
The Monte Carlo opened with six restaurants, including a 250-seat steakhouse and a 700-seat buffet featuring a Moroccan design. In addition, it offered a 210-seat food court.<ref name=Taste/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It also featured the Monte Carlo brewery and pub, which sold its own beers.<ref name=Taste/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It rebranded as The Pub in 2009, and removed its microbrewery; construction of the adjacent CityCenter forced the removal of the large brewing tanks in order to create more room.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar debuted with the Monte Carlo. It was remodeled in 2009 and updated to include cocktail waitresses dressed as anime characters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Hodge/> In 2008, the resort debuted Brand, a Template:Convert steakhouse by The Light Group,<ref name=Hodge/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> while an ice bar opened two years later.<ref name=Hodge>Template:Cite web</ref>
Several restaurants, as well as the ice bar, closed in 2017 to make way for new eateries, part of the Park MGM conversion.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two new restaurants opened in 2017: Bavette's Steakhouse & Bar, which originated in Chicago; and Primrose, a French restaurant seating more than 300.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also added was Eataly, part of a chain of Italian restaurants.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> MGM had tried for 10 years to bring the chain to one of its Strip resorts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chef Roy Choi opened Best Friend, his first Las Vegas restaurant, at the end of 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Live entertainment
Magician Lance Burton headlined at the Monte Carlo from its opening until September 4, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> He had previously performed at the Hacienda resort, also on the Strip, since 1991.<ref name=Taste/> Burton originally signed a 13-year contract with the Monte Carlo,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which built him a 1,200-seat venue known as the Lance Burton Theatre.<ref name=Taste/> His show was successful, closely associating him with the Monte Carlo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009, Burton signed an extension with the resort for up to six years.<ref name=Burton/><ref name=Mum>Template:Cite news</ref> However, he departed the property in 2010,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> due to disagreements with resort management.<ref name=Mum/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Burton had reportedly been asked to reduce his budget, to which he replied that he would rather end the show.<ref name=Burton>Template:Cite news</ref>
Other entertainers in the Lance Burton Theatre included comedian Frank Caliendo,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who performed there from 2009 to 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following Burton's departure, the Jabbawockeez dance crew began performance of their residency at Monte Carlo, entitled "MÜS.I.C".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It took place in Burton's former venue, renamed the Monte Carlo Theater.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In early 2011, it was announced that the Blue Man Group would renovate and take over the venue.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Jabbawockeez relocated to a temporary tent structure on the Monte Carlo property, with seating for 867. As scheduled, the Jabbawockeez departed the resort in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Blue Man Group performed at Monte Carlo from October 2012 to October 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2015, as part of the Park MGM conversion, construction began on a new 5,200-seat venue known as the Park Theater.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The former Lance Burton venue was demolished to make way for the Park Theater,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which opened on December 17, 2016.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was renamed Dolby Live in October 2021, in partnership with Dolby.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The theater has had residencies by Ricky Martin (All In), Cher (Classic Cher), Lady Gaga (Enigma),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Aerosmith (Deuces Are Wild),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Maroon 5,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> New Kids on the Block,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the first concert residency by Janet Jackson (Metamorphosis). Template:Clear
In popular culture
The Monte Carlo made several media appearances, including the films Dance with Me (1998),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was also in the television series The X-Files, serving as the main location in the season six episode "Three of a Kind" (1999).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the finale of The Amazing Race 15 (2009), teams had to count out $1 million worth of poker chips at the Monte Carlo to receive their next clue.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gallery
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Monte Carlo hotel tower, 1999
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Aerial view of the Monte Carlo at night, 2009
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Monte Carlo hotel lobby, 2009
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Monte Carlo casino floor, 2015
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The resort's pool area, 2019
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See also
Notes
References
External links
Template:Las Vegas casinos Template:Las Vegas hotels Template:Las Vegas skyscrapers Template:Las Vegas Strip Template:MGM Resorts International
- Pages with broken file links
- Park MGM
- 1996 establishments in Nevada
- Casinos completed in 1996
- Casinos in the Las Vegas Valley
- Hotel buildings completed in 1996
- Hotels established in 1996
- Mandalay Resort Group
- Resorts in the Las Vegas Valley
- Skyscraper hotels in Paradise, Nevada
- Casino hotels in the Las Vegas Valley
- Burned hotels in the United States