Mark Damon / Las Vegas News Bureau
Published Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 | 10:23 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 | 12:59 p.m.
The first entertainer announced to perform at Las Vegas Arena is a solid, and Strait, individual.
The man dubbed the King of Country Music and a proven Las Vegas commodity, George Strait, was announced today as one of the first entertainers to perform at Las Vegas Arena during a news conference at MGM Grand.
Strait was to appear during a news conference this morning, where dates, prices and other details were to be announced. It is expected that a series of shows will be announced at the 20,000-seat venue.
The show announcement coincides with the release of Strait’s new album, “Cold Beer Convo,” due out Oct. 15. The first single, “Cold Beer Convo,” is released to country music radio stations Wednesday.
The 63-year-old country music legend has routinely sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena. He opened Cowboys Stadium in 2009 and has sold 70 million records worldwide.
Just announced: Dates are April 22-23 and Sept. 9-10, 2016. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 2. Kacey Musgraves is the guest for the Las Vegas dates.
From the stage, Strait said, “I’ve played Las Vegas pretty much my entire touring career. The crowds are great. They come from all over because there is so much to do here.”
Strait has played a series of shows over the past six years at MGM Grand Garden Arena, typically during Super Bowl Weekend. Before Grand Garden Arena, he performed at Frontier, Las Vegas Hilton (where he stayed in the Elvis Suite), the Mirage (where scenes in the film “Pure Country” were filmed) and Golden Nugget.
During his remarks at today’s news conference, Strait referred to his return to the stage after “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour” of 2013-2014 and added that he wanted to continue to perform live and promote his new album.
“I said all along I wasn’t going to tour anymore, but I also said that I wasn’t retiring by any means, and I still wanted to do some dates,” he said. “I’ve been working a little bit here and there, and I’m really proud of this new album that’s coming out. I think it’s a great record. I always say this — I think it’s one of the best records I’ve done.”
Mark Prows, senior vice president of arenas for MGM Resorts, said Strait has been the rare artists who “sells out MGM Grand Garden Arena instantly whenever he plays there” and that the country legend was among the first artists to enter the discussion for who to recruit to open the venue.
“This goes back to the beginning, when we were first developing the arena, because of George’s history in Las Vegas,” Prows said.
Strait will play Las Vegas Arena in the round, as he has appeared at Grand Garden Arena, at the venue’s full 20,000-seat capacity.
MGM Grand, a AAA Four Diamond resort, offers 5,044 rooms and suites.
MGM Grand features KÀ by Cirque du Soleil; Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club; and world-class entertainment at the Grand Garden Arena and Hollywood Theatre.
The resort offers signature restaurants by celebrity chefs including Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans Fish House, Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill and Michelin three star and Forbes Five Star restaurant, Joël Robuchon.
As part of its ongoing “Grand Renovation,” MGM Grand has remodeled all rooms and suites in its main tower and is adding several new experiences to its lineup including Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub, a new upscale dining/nightlife concept (coming in April 2013).
MGM Grand also features a state-of-the-art, non-smoking conference center, the Grand Spa, Cristophe Salon, "CSI: The Experience" and an inviting pool complex featuring the tantalizing daylife of Wet Republic.
Upscale accommodations include The Mansion, an exclusive hotel within the hotel; the luxurious two-story SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand; and The Signature at MGM Grand, a luxury all-suite, non-gaming hotel located adjacent to the main resort.
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