Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

September 14, 2009

City Center Wins Some Green

Posted by Hunter

City Center isn't even open and it's already winning some green. By that terrible pun, I am referring to their LEED certification for Aria and Vdara, two components of the project.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/59215277.html

This is a great thing - not only does the company get a tax abatement for up to ten years, it gets them a bunch of extra press and builds some additional excitement... plus, helping the environment isn't a bad thing either.


Categories: Business of Gaming, Casino Design, CityCenter, Las Vegas Strip, MGM Resorts International
Tags: aria, citycenter, lasvegas, projectcitycenter


Comments

Read archived comments (13 so far)
September 14, 2009 9:10 AM Posted by Brian Fey

Oh yes, I've already gotten emails about this from my dear friend Leonard this morning. He's very excited about this, and is sure City Center will cause the cards to collapse for Wynn Resorts. I'm happy to say, I cannot agree. MGM is clearly not the place most whales prefer to make their long term deposits.

September 14, 2009 5:33 PM Posted by John

They were actually awarded three certifications. The other being for the convention center at Aria.

September 14, 2009 9:20 PM Posted by Michael Lu

Brian,
I assume your talking about Leonard Stern. Gosh, I miss that guy's opinions and insight when he used to comment all the time. But yeah I think it's going to be rather difficult for MGM to take out Wynn. Let's just try to make Bellagio and Aria perform better than Caesar's and LVS for now...

September 14, 2009 11:13 PM Posted by Doug

The LEED certification is great for City Center and MGM. And I'm sure Aria will attract its share of whales - Bellagio still has plenty of them and so does the MGM Grand(even Mandalay Bay has some).

But the more I think about it, the one thing that concerns me is high-end shopping at City Center for the 'posh crowd'. One of the things that keeps Wynn and Palazzo busy is the shopping and Aria/City Center is going to have to do more than just expensive jewelry stores.

Of course for me the real story of Aria is going to be the design, layout and gaming conditions in the casino. If I just wanted to stay in a great hotel I'd go to New York.

September 14, 2009 11:26 PM Posted by mike_ch

It's nice to hear he's still a believer.

I wonder what his take on the Harmon was. CityCenter has nearly caused the cards to collapse, as you say, on MGM at least twice before it's done anything to threaten Wynn.

September 15, 2009 6:13 PM Posted by detroit1051

Brian wrote, "MGM is clearly not the place most whales prefer to make their long term deposits."
I don't agree. I don't know any whales, but I do know several fairly heavy players who still prefer Bellagio over Wynn/Encore. Part of it is the comps they receive at ALL MGM properties while they're staying and playing at Bellagio: shows/concerts, restaurants at other MGM hotels, Shadow Creek, etc.
Here's a link to a presentation MGM made earlier this year, Bellagio's 12 month EBITDA through 3/09 led all other Strip properties including Wynn/Encore. Granted, Encore hadn't been open long, but from recent reports, it's lagging Wynn.
We'll have to see what happens when Aria opens.
See Page 5:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MzM5ODk3fENoaWxkSUQ9MzI1MzYxfFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1

September 16, 2009 11:37 AM Posted by detroit1051

CityCenter's PR blitz has begun with a press release including video and photos. The video is mostly a composite of renderings and photos we've seen here before, but it is impressive, and ties in the other towers as non-gaming alternatives to Aria and Bellagio.
My change of heart continues. I believe Aria and CityCenter will help grow Bellagio and Monte Carlo.
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mgm/40097/

September 16, 2009 11:57 PM Posted by Doug

I remember what Bobby Baldwin said when Wynn Las Vegas opened: "The beauty contest starts today"...

And there's no doubt in my mind the Monte Carlo will grow because of City Center - The MC is making a lot of improvements and if they jazz up the casino a bit it could be a hot spot for the mid-tier guest.

The only thing that angers me is I can't stay at Vdara because I'm a cigar smoker...But a non-smoking hotel is going to be a big hit for sure. It's one of the reasons the Signature is so well liked at the MGM.

September 17, 2009 2:45 PM Posted by mike_ch

Monte Carlo has opened it's mall back up, and the bar (now The Pub) with it, and I have photos, but have been a little under the weather to upload them to Hunter.

Suffice it to say, I thought it looked like the old Street of Dreams shops with a lot of theming removed and walls painted stark white in a lot of places, and the hallway past the brewery to where the CityCenter-A-Go-Go is still is barricaded.

September 18, 2009 9:05 AM Posted by detroit1051

Mike, hurry up and feel better. I want to see the Monte Carlo photos.

September 18, 2009 2:10 PM Posted by mike_ch

Detroit: They turned out blurry as hell. I sent them to Hunter anyway and will try and get better ones in the future. There's a lot of empty storefronts with signage suggesting something will be opening in the next few weeks anyways, so it's worth a revisit.

September 21, 2009 1:52 PM Posted by detroit1051

Aria's remote control:
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/buyer/article.aspx?articleid=14901

September 25, 2009 4:25 AM Posted by jeux pour enfant

I think the one thing that concerns me is high-end shopping at City Center for the 'posh crowd'. One of the things that keeps Wynn and Palazzo busy is the shopping and Aria/City Center is going to have to do more than just expensive jewelry stores.