Next month, ownership of The Mirage Hotel and Casino will finally switch hands.
In December 2021, Hard Rock International announced a deal to pay MGM Resorts International $1.075bn to take over operations of the resort. Hard Rock has announced its intention to build a guitar-shaped shaped hotel on the property.
MGM Resorts recently posted a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the transfer of ownership. According to the FAQ, "the transfer of ownership is expected to occur by December 31st, 2022, pending Nevada regulatory approval.”
For now, the FAQ states, The Mirage will remain open after the ownership transfer. Despite Hard Rock’s stated intent to rebrand the location as Hard Rock Las Vegas, the resort will retain its name for the moment.
The FAQ clarified some other points about the ownership transfer: all previous reservations will be honored, the tram service between The Mirage and the MGM-owned Treasure Island will continue, and parking will still be free to MGM Resorts’ Noir and Platinum rewards members.
Hard Rock had previously announced its intention to tear down the property’s iconic volcano show. The show, which features the eruption of an artificial volcano, was state-of-the-art when the resort opened in 1989.
The attraction lost its luster as newer resorts opened on the Las Vegas Strip, so The Mirage improved the volcano in 2008 to include 120 flamethrowers and a 12-foot-high waterspout.
Hard Rock International’s plans to remove the volcano appear to have been put on hold.
“There are no current plans to change the volcano show,” the FAQ states.
Meanwhile, Hard Rock International has begun hiring employees in preparation for the acquisition. The company’s internal job board shows a total of 39 open positions, including positions in Information Technology, Hotel Operations, Human Resources, Accounting/Finance and Marketing/Sales.
