I believe I read on twitter that Caesars and the Cosmopolitan would be sold last week. Well, they weren’t and there isn’t too much exciting news. Have no fear, Resorts World is here to save the day! (“Vegas Looking Back”) We don’t have more news but my personal twitter had some information that people enjoyed.

News: Resorts World Announces 20 Year Agreement With NV Energy

Evidently, it’s news that Resorts World Las Vegas reached a 20-year agreement with NV Energy. This Vegas looking back “news” is a reminder that Resorts World broke ground on May 5, 2015. Today, they say the casino will open in 2020. I’ll believe it when I see it. There doesn’t seem to be much happening.

For the time being let’s look at how Resorts World Las Vegas has been downsized since originally planned. The top rendering below is the original plan and the bottom rendering is the most recent.

Whatever Resorts World is will be a sad version of what was originally planned more than four years ago.

Vegas Looking Back – Before Resorts World, There was Echelon

Back in 2006, Boyd Gaming announced they were closing the Stardust to build Echelon Place. The plans were very similar to the mixed-use, casino with multiple hotels we know as City Center.

The project ballooned to 87 acres after Boyd Gaming traded Barbary Coast (now the Cromwell) to Caesars Entertainment for Westward Ho. The vision for Echelon (they dropped “place” during construction) was massive.

Vegas Today and Tomorrow has some amazing Vegas looking back details on Echelon: “The project will have close to 5,000 rooms which will be divided into five (partially separate) towers.  The main 2,500-room Echelon Hotel, the 650-room The Enclave (Suites at Echelon), and the 350-room Shangri-La Las Vegas will share one high-rise while the 860-room Mondrian Las Vegas and the 550-room Delano Las Vegas will share the other.”

Echelon – The hotels would have shared the following:

• 140,000-sq. ft casino (the fourth largest in Las Vegas)
• 300,000-sq. ft. shopping venue
• 750,000-sq. ft. convention center
• 30 restaurants and bars
• 4,000-seat stadium-style theater (for resident production shows)
• 1,500-seat theater (for touring acts)

Echelon was supposed to be completed by the “third quarter of 2010.” Unfortunately, construction was halted in 2008. Since then the property has been sold and Genting has plans to build Resorts World.

Resorts World – Original Plans

The original plans for Resorts World were very similar to Echelon. Sadly, the current renderings are much less interesting and progress for the project have slowed immensely. We might see Resorts World open someday.

I only scratched the surface on plans for Echelon/Echelon Place. Visit Vegas Today And Tomorrow for lots more pictures, renderings, and info about the project. Check out Vegas Dreams | Failed Las Vegas Projects for a few more ideas that never made it in Vegas.

Looking back at what could have been is always fun. Thanks to Resorts World Las Vegas for signing a deal to buy energy for 20 years. Maybe the casino-resort will be open before the deal ends.

Quick Hits

Most of Quick Hits will be new information. With that being said, I’m using the lack of new news to throw in a few nuggets I missed from the past few weeks.

• The Las Vegas Bowl is moving from Boyd Stadium to the new Raiders football stadium near Mandalay Bay. There are also new teams playing. Read more here.
• Willie Nelson is doing a residency at The Venetian. Read about it here.
• For one hour for the rest of the month, you can get a 99 cent Shrimp Cocktail at 7th & Carson. Outside of the happy hour deal, the Shrimp Cocktail is $10. Read more here.
• The Linq loves virtual reality. In addition to the VR on the casino floor, you can check out the new Virtual Reality Dome. See and read more here.
• You know I love sports/betting. It’s been a pleasure getting to know Chris Andrews from the South Point over the past few years. Read about him and his book of amazing stories that you can only experience with gambling and casinos here.
• Celine Dion is done at Caesars Palace. Read more here.
• Rumor of the week: Rumors about Rio being imploded for a baseball stadium are old. The new rumor is that a baseball stadium will be built moved near the South Point. The next rumor will be that the stadium will be built in Primm. Read more here.
• The owner of SLS Las Vegas might buy a hockey team. He probably won’t but you can read more here.
• Evidently, drink monitoring at MGM Resorts casino bars is changing. It looks the same to me since I always used a players card. You can read about it here.
• Around 8,000 (!) people watched Steve Aoki at the Fremont Street Experience. That’s madness! See pics and read more here.
• Here’s a fun article on the Bellagio Conservatory that looks like it was written by MGM Resorts for USA Today. I wouldn’t share this normally but I like the pics and random info. Read more here.
• A dude bet $400 on the St. Louis Blues to win the NHL Championship at Paris Las Vegas. They won the Stanley Cup and he won $100,000. Read more here.
• The National Atomic Testing Museum is looking for space in downtown Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Renovations of the Vue Bar are complete. I’ll have more pics and thoughts after I visit the sports book next week. The space looks similar with a few more TV’s. Most importantly, they kept the same video poker pay tables.

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