Hard Rock International had supposedly announced plans to close The Mirage and gut the entire three-wing hotel and casino. It plans to undertake a billion-dollar upgrade to the property beginning in late 2023 or early 2024.
However, it has since clarified that it will not actually be closing the property.
As reported by the Las Vegas Review Journal, the operator took major steps to purchase The Mirage on Wednesday when the Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended approval of its $1.08bn bid. It will be acquiring the iconic property from MGM Resorts International.
If the sale receives final approval on December 22, Hard Rock CEO and President Jim Allen says The Mirage will see major renovations to its facilities. This includes an increase from the 3,044 rooms it currently has to offer to 3,640 rooms under the Hard Rock brand.
Hard Rock also plans to expand the casino from 94,00 square feet to 174,000 square feet and the convention space from 200,000 square feet to 283,000 square feet. It will install 836 new slot machines to take the total to 2,000 while the number of table games will rise from 51 to 212.
One major visual change will be the replacing of the iconic massive volcano facade outside the Mirage – which will be swapped for a 550-foot shaped guitar tower.
Allen commented: “Certainly the volcano is legendary, but as you saw in the renderings, the guitar-shaped hotel replaces the volcano.”
Allen said current Mirage employees would be invited to retain their jobs once the venue moves into Hard Rock ownership. He further said that the increased size of the casino would mean that additional workers would need to be hired.
Not everything will change at The Mirage – BetMGM will continue to operate the property’s race and sportsbook. Allen also said Hard Rock had signed an agreement to retain Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles-themed ‘Love’ shows.
The expanded and upgraded resort is slated to reopen its doors in 2025 or 2026.
