May has been a busy month for the corporate entity Caesars Entertainment. You can see all of the press releases here but I’ll try to share the interesting information in easily digestible bites. Let’s roll!

Caesars Plans To Upgrade and Expand In Las Vegas

This isn’t entirely news (see Vegas News on May 7) if you read this column every week. However, old-school corporations like Caesars typically move slowly so some information is just reaching the masses. This week Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora discussed some post-bankruptcy plans with Bloomberg.

We already knew that Caesars was planning to build on the vacant land they own just off the Vegas Strip. There are 40 acres of land behind The Linq and 50 acres behind Bally’s that are waiting to be used for something. Caesars also plans to do something with the seven acres in front of Caesars Palace and up to the Vegas Strip. Please no Caesars Palace Grand Bazaar. Please.

Some of the space behind Bally’s and The Linq will be used on cheap construction like shopping and convention space. I don’t think a new hotel tower will be added to either property and was curious what the twitter world thought. Without using the name of the casinos I asked twitter what they would build on the space and received some interesting responses.

The most interesting response was from @John_Mehaffey. He thinks building something similar to Rising Sports Ranch in Mesquite, NV could make sense. I’m a sports fan so I like this idea. If a sports complex is built behind Bally’s it would be a nice sister property to The Linq and could tie in nicely with another nearby sports complex, Topgolf at MGM Grand. Caesars could even partner with Rising Sports Ranch to share in the expense of building the experience.

It seems as though Frissora and Caesars already have a plan in mind but I think the sports complex idea or a water park would inexpensively complement what Caesars offers. Keep your eyes open for more news on these developments.

Flamingo, Caesars Palace Renovations Planned. Maybe More To Come.

Caesars plans to renovate 7,000 hotel rooms throughout the country this year. The biggest renovation scheduled right now is to 1,270 rooms at the Flamingo. Caesars Entertainment will be upgrading all of the FAB rooms at the hotel.

These rooms were renovated five years ago but were never really completed since they didn’t touch the bathroom. That renovation brought the rooms from the 1970’s to the 1990’s but not much more. The first batch of new rooms at the Flamingo will be available in November. Caesars is currently planning completion by the second quarter of 2018. You can read more about the renovations here and see the rendering video below:

As we previously mentioned, Caesars will begin renovations to 1,100 hotel rooms at the Palace Tower of Caesars Palace Las Vegas. No other Las Vegas renovations have been revealed yet, but the Indigo Tower at Bally’s could use a renovation. Perhaps that will tie together their plan for the 50-acre plot of land behind the hotel.

Caesars Quick Hits

• Richard Marx will perform “Satisfied: Only The Hits” at Flamingo from August 15 through September 2. Read more here.
• A person is suing Planet Hollywood because he was frightened by a mannequin in his room. Read more here.

Cosmopolitan Evolution Continues

The latest renovations at the Cosmopolitan aren’t for just anyone. The hotel just opened 21 luxury penthouses located on the 71st through 75th floors. There’s also a new high rollers room called The Reserve on the 71st Floor. This intimate 3,200-square-foot high rollers lounge is for the highest of high rollers.

Related : The Evolution Of The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the room will have a sliding wall to create two parlors. The casino expects that gamblers in this lounge will be wagering around $1,000,000 per hand. The Cosmopolitan continues to evolve into a casino that still appeals to the cool kids while trying to open its doors to traditional casino customers. The penthouses should appeal to both, while the gaming lounge will probably only appeal to the gambler.

Resorts World Construction Continues?

Supposedly construction workers at Resorts World have been working in places nobody can see. Whatever. Genting announced that they hired a guy and will officially start construction in 90 days. I hope it’s true but they’ve said this before. I’ll believe it when I see it. You can read a more positive take from the Las Vegas Sun.

Just over three years ago Genting revealed plans for Resorts World. I was blogging on my own site back then and couldn’t have been more excited. The project was supposed to be open by 2017 at the latest. Not so fast. Forgive me if my excitement has waned over the years.

Breaking News: Luxor Closing Poker Room Soon

When not offering ideas for casino operators, @John_Mehaffey is finding news about poker rooms. The poker room at Luxor will be closing in two to three weeks. Poker rooms have been closing at a rapid pace over the past couple of years and there’s no end in sight as casino operators look for space to increase revenue. For what it’s worth, this is the last poker room I ever played in Las Vegas.

Banger Brewing Teams Up With Station Casinos

The headline says that “Barley’s Casino teamed with Banger Brewing for refresh” but I have a feeling this will be bigger and better for beer drinkers. More on that in a second. Downtown Las Vegas-based Banger Brewing will now produce the beer for Barley’s Casino and Brewery. Barley’s is a Station Casinos property in a strip mall in Henderson, NV.

According to Travel Weekly, Banger Brewing will produce Blue Diamond blonde, Red Rock red ale, High Hops IPA, and Buzz! Buzz! coffee stout for Barley’s. Similar to how they operate in their downtown Las Vegas brewery, they’ll also produce small batch beers for seasons and holidays.

Barley’s is a small casino and brewery and has been operating in Henderson, NV for 20 years. Think of this like a smaller Main Street Station. They haven’t been able to produce enough beer for other Station Casinos properties around town. On the other hand, Banger Brewing has been able to get their beer in casinos, bars, and restaurants all over Las Vegas. Expect this partnership to bring the new Barley beers to more outlets, starting with other Station Casinos.

While Station Casinos hasn’t confirmed anything I expect to see Red Rock red ale in my home casino before too long. The beer options at Red Rock Casino aren’t the greatest so I’m looking forward to trying some new locally produced beer. This marriage makes a lot of sense for both companies. Maybe Boyd Gaming will follow suit and increase distribution for Main Street Station beer.

Quick Hits

• Here’s an interesting read from Legal Sports Report on gambling at Las Vegas Raiders games.
• Topgolf can bump the jams later. Sometimes. Read more here.
• Golden Nugget added a new level to the 24k select players club called Billionaire’s Club. Read more here.
• This free shuttle in downtown Las Vegas is free (not a typo). Read more here and here.
• The Orleans buffet is getting a remodel. Read more here.
• The World Series of Poker got rid of the November Nine and is going to be available to watch online daily. Read more here.
• Incubus will be playing a handful of shows at The Hard Rock. Read more here.

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