Iconic Las Vegas Mirage Closing and Rebranding

A Las Vegas landmark, the Mirage and Casino, announced it will close its doors on July 17 to prepare for a renovation and rebrand under the Hard Rock Las Vegas name. For people in other states with access to Hard Rock, it's one of our best sports betting sites.

The Mirage, complete with its signature volcano out front, its Polynesian theme, its 3,000 rooms, 80 acres, and signature events such as Siegfried and Roy’s white tiger show and the Beatles' Cirque de Soleil show, was opened in 1989 and is an icon in the Nevada sports betting scene.

The Steve Wynn-owned property will officially shutter on July 17 to make way for contractors ready to change not only the name but also the overall theme of one of the most iconic Las Vegas Strip mega-casinos. Former players at the property might want to check out different real money online casinos.

"We look forward to the beginning of an exciting journey into a new era as Hard Rock Las Vegas will ignite the Strip with entertainment, innovation and world-class hospitality,” the Mirage said on its Facebook account.

Ramifications

With the shuttering of the Mirage Las Vegas will come a major hole in the history and the infrastructure of the Strip, for three years, while the renovation is taking place.

It essentially closes a chapter of Las Vegas history as the Mirage was one of the first mega-casinos/hotels built on the strip built in 1989.

It also means the end of 3,300 jobs in Las Vegas. All employees will be laid off and an estimated $80 million in severance will be paid out.

“We really are encouraged about not only the future of Las Vegas, but how Hard Rock and Seminole Tribe can play a role in helping to develop that and grow the market,” Resort President Joe Lupo said. “But today is a tough day for a lot of people. Our priority is the well being of those individuals.”

The Mirage, the first Strip property to be run by a Native American tribe after the Seminole Tribe purchased the landmark casino from MGM Resorts in 2022, will align the property with its Hard Rock roots and bring its own branding to the location.

The new Hard Rock resort will be the second time that Hard Rock has had a presence in Vegas. The other was an off-Strip location that turned into the Virgin Hotel Las Vegas.

The reno

The Mirage will take an estimated three years to transitions from its current iteration to Seminole-owned Hard Rock Las Vegas, which will feature a hotel tower in the shape of a guitar. That tower will be nearly 700 feet tall.

Gone will be the recognizable and crowd-attracting volcano, the first "sidewalk attraction" on the Vegas Strip, and in will be more rooms at the resort and what is sure to be an eye-catching tower.

It is expected that the renovations will last until 2027 and will put the Hard Rock stamp on the Las Vegas strip.

Vegas undergoing change

The Las Vegas Strip is going to look different in a few years, that is for certain. The Mirage is the second mega-casino and hotel that has announced that it is closing its doors. 

The Tropicana Las Vegas was closed to make way for a new $1.5 billion baseball stadium that will eventually house MLB's Oakland Athletics.

Between the demolition and creation of new Las Vegas landmarks, the Vegas Strip figures to be in flux and a state of chaos for years to come. But in true Vegas fashion, the city will find a way to make visitors forget the mayhem and enjoy what is always a unique experience. Residents will still be able to take advantage of several Nevada sportsbook promos.