Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sun Editorial:

CityCenter’s grand opening

Impressive resort’s innovative design should be a big draw for Las Vegas

CityCenter officially opened Wednesday to high expectations with the unveiling of its centerpiece, Aria. The resort’s Web site declares CityCenter to be the “capital of the new world,” and Jim Murren, CEO of resort parent MGM Mirage, isn’t shy about his vision.

“This isn’t just another opening,” Murren said Wednesday. “This is a game-changer.”

That isn’t hyperbole. The massive $8.5 billion project has brought a new element to the Strip. Murren wanted to create a “city center,” a place where people could come and spend a day — or several days — and its design reflects that.

Unlike many casinos designed to shuttle people into their gaming floors, CityCenter has several entrances, allowing people to wander in and out. There are open spaces where people can linger, and the work of prominent artists is displayed throughout the resort — available for viewing free of charge.

The buildings were designed by top-notch architects and are sleek and modern. The hotels veer from the typical Y-shaped layout on the Strip, and design elements — such as unique water features — provide a visual buffet. As well, the resort is on the cutting edge of environmental design. Six buildings have won recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council for being environmentally friendly.

“This is really 21st century Las Vegas,” said architect Cesar Pelli, whose firm designed Aria. “This is really setting up very high standards that will be very hard to match — but I hope they will try.”

The resort will hopefully provide a lift for Las Vegas, which has struggled in the midst of a terrible economy. CityCenter has 12,000 people on staff, providing good jobs when they are needed.

Some analysts have wondered about the viability of the resort, considering its size and the recession. By the end of the month, the resort will have 4,004 hotel rooms, increasing room capacity on the Strip by 8.5 percent, according to analyst UBS Investment Research. CityCenter’s opening comes when a few smaller hotels have closed parts of their operations.

Murren is quick to note that there shouldn’t be a rush to judgment about CityCenter’s success, and he is correct. It will take time for the resort to ramp up to full operation. It will also take time to see what the effect is on Las Vegas.

The expectation, though, is that CityCenter will become a draw and bring more people to Las Vegas, boosting the economy for everyone. It is a unique project, and from the innovative design to the public artwork, CityCenter could draw tourists who just want to take it all in.

MGM Mirage should be commended for dreaming big, particularly in difficult economic times. Las Vegas is a town that was built — and continues to be expanded — by visionaries who defied the critics. As we recall, there were those who derided Steve Wynn and said his Mirage resort would never last — that was 20 years ago. The Mirage opened a new era in Las Vegas with innovative resorts that provided a “wow” factor and garnered international attention.

CityCenter continues that trend. It has all the makings of becoming a world-class destination that will help spur the local economy and draw people from around the globe.

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