Tag Archives: MGM

On This Date: December 18, 1993: MGM Grand Las Vegas Opened

December 18, 2019
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

MGM Grand Las Vegas Opened on December 18, 1993

The MGM Grand Las Vegas  opened on December 18, 1993. The hotel casino is located on the Las Vegas Strip on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Ave. The MGM Grand is the second largest hotel in the world by number of rooms and the largest hotel resort complex in the United States, ahead of The Venetian. When it opened in 1993, the MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world.

Owned and operated by MGM Resorts International, the 30-floor main building is 293 ft. high. The property includes five outdoor pools, rivers, and waterfalls that cover 6.6 acres, a 380,000 sq ft. convention center, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the Grand Spa. It also houses numerous shops and night clubs, restaurants, the Grand Garden Arena and the largest casino in Clark County, which occupies 171,500 sq ft.

The original hotel that existed on the current site before the MGM was built was the Marina Hotel. The Marina with was incorporated in to the new design and makes up the west wing of the hotel.  The MGM Grand name was originally used for the MGM Grand on the Flamingo Road and the Strip which was renamed when it was bought up by Bally’s Inc.

Originally, the main entrance on the Strip was inside the mouth of a giant cartoon-like version of MGM’s mascot, Leo the Lion, but this entrance feature was changed to a more traditional entrance; many Chinese gamblers avoided the casino or entered through the back entrance, due to the feng shui belief that entering the mouth of the lion was “bad luck.” In 1998, a large bronze statue of Leo was added above the entrance to keep with the MGM Lion theme.

Photo by: Wikipedia

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On This Date: November 22, 1989, The Mirage Resort Opened on the Las Vegas Strip

November 22, 2019
The Mirage

The Mirage

On this date, November 22, 1989 the Mirage Resort & Casino, initially scheduled for an opening in early December 1989, was opened early on November 22, 1989. At the time of its opening, The Mirage was the largest hotel in the world, with 3,044 rooms. The hotel tower, standing 29 stories, was built out in a Y-shape design, a concept that was later copied by Las Vegas’ Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, and Mandalay Bay resorts. The hotel’s top five floors were used exclusively for high roller rooms and penthouse suites.

The Mirage was proposed with an initial cost of $565 million. Financier Michael Milken helped finance the project by selling $525 million worth of mortgage bonds. The Mirage was the first resort that was built with the money of Wall Street through the use of junk bonds. The project went over budget,  and was the most expensive hotel-casino in history, with a construction cost of US $630 million. The Mirage was the first new resort to be built on the Las Vegas Strip in 16 years, after the completion of the MGM Grand in 1973. The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games.

Panoramic Photo of the Mirage in 1999

Panoramic Photo of the Mirage in 1999

On May 31, 2000, the Golden Nugget, The Mirage (and all of Steve Wynn’s other properties) were sold to Kirk Kerkorian; the consolidated corporation was known as MGM Mirage and has been the largest casino corporation in Las Vegas since that date. The property is currently owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.

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On This Date: November 21, 1980 The MGM Grand’s Fire Disaster

November 21, 2019
MGM Grand Fire November 21,1980

MGM Grand Fire November 21, 1980

The MGM Grand fire occurred on November 21, 1980 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (now Bally’s Las Vegas) in Las Vegas, located on the corner of Flamingo Road and the Las Vegas Blvd. The fire killed 85 people, mostly through smoke inhalation. The tragedy remains the worst disaster in Nevada history, and the third-worst hotel fire in modern U.S. history. The fire was caused by an electrical ground fault inside a wall from a restaurant call “The Deli” located on the the south end of the casino.

MGM Grand ( now Bally's) Worst Fire Disaster in Nevada's History on Nov. 21, 1980

MGM Grand (now Bally’s) Worst Fire Disaster in Nevada’s History on Nov. 21, 1980

Fire spread across the areas of the casino in which no fire sprinklers were installed. Smoke spread into the hotel tower. A total of 85 people were killed and 650 injured, including guests, employees and 14 firefighters. While the fire primarily damaged the second floor casino and adjacent restaurants, most of the deaths were on the upper floors of the hotel, and were caused by smoke inhalation. Openings in vertical shafts (elevators and stairwells) and seismic joints allowed toxic smoke to spread to the top floor.

The fire at the MGM lead to new strict fire regulations for all hotels and commercial buildings in Nevada and are consider the most

Photo by: Wikipedia.org

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On this Date: June 28, 1997 Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield Ear Off

June 28, 2018
Boxer Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield Boxing

“The Bite” Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield Fight in Las Vegas on June 28, 1997

On this Date: June 28, 1997, at the Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson fight, Mike Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield ear.  The Fight was billed at the ‘The Sound and the Fury” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the WBA Heavyweight Championship referee by Lane Mils. But, the fight will go down in history as the “Bite Fight”.

The fight began with Holyfield dominating Tyson. Holyfield won the first three rounds. As the third round was about to begin, Tyson came out of his corner without his mouthpiece.  With forty seconds remaining in the round Holyfield got Tyson in a clinch, and Tyson rolled his head above Holyfield’s shoulder and bit Holyfield on his right ear, a one-inch piece of cartilage from the top of the ear, and spitting out the piece of ear on the ring floor.

The fight was stopped for a few minutes as the referee debated the status of the fight. The fight was resumed. During another clinch, Tyson bit Holyfield’s left ear. Holyfield threw his hands around to get out of the clinch and jumped back. Tyson’s second bite just scarred Holyfield’s ear. Lane did not stop the fight this time, so the two men continued fighting until time expired. The men walked back to their respective corners when the second bite was discovered and the fight was then stopped.

A scuffle broke out in the ring between the Tyson corner , security surrounded Holyfield in his corner and Tyson took swings at the people in his way, but was taken back to his corner by security.

Twenty-five minutes after the brawl ended, announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. read the decision: “Ladies and gentlemen, this bout has been stopped at the end of round number three, the referee in charge, Mills Lane, disqualifies Mike Tyson for biting Evander Holyfield in both ears, the winner by way of disqualification and still the WBA Champion of the world, Evander ‘The Real Deal’ Holyfield!” Holyfield won the WBA’s boxing championship, prize, money and trophy because of Tyson’s disqualification.

Tyson was sentenced with a permanent suspension from boxing and his license cancelled indefinitely. Tyson was also fined $3,000,000 and had to serve a period of community service. After a year and an appeal in court, Tyson’s license was reinstated.

On October 16, 2009 on The Oprah Winfrey Show Tyson apologized to Holyfield. Holyfield accepted his apology and forgave Tyson. When Tyson and Holyfield retired from boxing they befriended each other and are now close friends today.

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Las Vegas 360 Panoramic Photos of Las Vegas

July 4, 2011

Click any of the photos for a 360° hi-res view of the Las Vegas Strip.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign
Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas historic sign, the beginning of the famous “Strip”, Las Vegas Blvd. South. (c. 1999)

Glass Pool Inn aka The Mirage
The Glass Pool Inn 1950’s style motel on the south end of the Strip, with the coolest swimming pool. Note: The Motel was renamed in 1988 from “The Mirage” when Steve Wynn’s Mirage Hotel Open. Motel and pool was demolished in 2004, only the sign remains. (photo. 1999)

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The Glass Pool Inn and the Mandalay Bay Hotel in the the background. (c. 1999)

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Mandalay Bay (includes a Four Seasons Hotel) and the Luxor Hotel opposite.  Mandalay Bay includes the legendary House of Blues which features nightly entertainment.

Click for Hi-res 360 Photo: The Luxor and Excalibur Hotels
Front Entrance to the Luxor Hotel. Largest pyramid hotel in the world. The Luxor (2,526 rooms) and Excalibur (4000 rooms) Hotels

Click for Hi-Res 360 photoLocated in the front of the Excalibur Hotel & Casino looking at the New York New York Hotel.

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On the pedestrian walkway between the Tropicana and the Excalibur

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Located in front of Tropicana, SE Corner of Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) and Tropicana Ave.

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Located in front of the MGM Northeast Corner of Las Vegas Blvd.

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Located on the walkway between New York New York and MGM.

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Located in front of New York New York, Northwest corner of Las Vegas Blvd. (Strip) and Tropicana Ave.

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Located on the walkway between NY NY and Excabilar Hotel & Casino.

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Allstar Cafe located next to the MGM Grand Hotel includes GamesWorks, M & M World and Coke Cola Plaza. Note: All Star Cafe, a sports-themed restaurant developed by Andre Agassi and five athlete partners, closed in 2000. Replaced with cheesy-Generica fast-food.

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Monte Carlo Hotel Located next to the New York New York Hotel.

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Monte Carlo Hotel on the Left and Polo Towers (Timeshare on the Right).

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Polo Towers on the East Side with the Boardwalk Hotel & Casino. Note: Boardwalk Hotel & Casino closed in 2006. It was imploded on May 9, 2006 to make way for City Center.

Click to view hi-res 360 photoConstruction of the Aladdin (c.1999) -now Planet Hollywood and the Paris Hotels looking north. The Harley Davidson Cafe is located on this corner, it is the building with the motorcycle crashing through the front entrance. Note: Across the Street, everything was removed and City Center now stands.

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Construction of the Aladdin-aka Planet Hollywood (c.1999) (foreground) and Paris (tower).

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The Bellagio looking across the Lake Look toward Caesars Palace.  Note: Bellagio
opened October 15, 1998. It was the former site of the Dune’s Hotel that operated from May 23, 1955 to January 26, 1993 imploded on November 25, 1997

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Construction of the Aladdin and the Paris Hotels (c. 1999).  Note: The Aladdin opened April 1, 1966 and closed November 25, 1997. The hotel was imploded on April 27, 1998 and reopened on August 18, 2000. On April 17, 2007, the hotel was renovated and renamed to Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

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The Bellaigo Hotel and Casino across the lake.

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Another view of the  Bellaigo Hotel and Casino across the lake.

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Bally’s Hotel and Casino on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road.

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Bally’s Hotel and Casino. Note: Bally’s was formerly the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, the casino burned in Las Vegas’ worst fire on November 21, 1980, killing 85 guests and employees. The MGM Grand was sold in 1985 and renamed to Bally’s.

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Barbary Coast (c. 1999) and Bally’s Entrance at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Blvd. Note: The Barbary Coast (March, 1979-February 27, 2007)  The hotel and casino were rebranded as Bill’s Gamblin Hall and Saloon.

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