Hard Rock Reveals Renderings For Mirage Renovations

Hard Rock International executives announced plans to close The Mirage and empty the entire three-wing hotel and casino. Hard Rock will undertake a billion-dollar upgrade and build a guitar-shaped hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in late 2023 or 2024.

As the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, Hard Rock took a major step toward acquiring The Mirage.

Hard Rock, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, acquired the iconic Nevada casino from MGM Resorts in a deal worth $1.08 billion. That move will make Hard Rock the first tribal operator on the Las Vegas Strip.

The sale still has to receive the Nevada Gaming Commission’s final approval on Dec. 22.

Hard Rock to commence Mirage’s billion-dollar upgrade

Hard Rock CEO and president James Allen said that when the resort expands, its capacity will increase. In particular, it
will grow from The Mirage’s current 3,044 rooms to 3,640 rooms under the Hard Rock brand.

The owners will also enlarge the resort’s features:

• Casino venue, from 94,000 square feet to 174,000 square feet
• Convention space, from 200,000 square feet to 283,000 square feet
• Number of slot machines, from 836 to 2,000
• Number of table games, from 51 to 212
• Theater size, from 3,278 seats to 6,265
• Number of food and beverage outlets, from 18 to 21

Hard Rock also plans to replace The Mirage’s iconic feature, a massive volcano facade, with a 550-foot guitar tower. As Allen said during the hearing: “Certainly the volcano is legendary, but as you saw in the renderings, the guitar-shaped hotel replaces the volcano.”

Allen pointed out he wanted to make the guitar tower even taller, to nearly 1,000 feet, but Clark County rejected the idea.

Nevada casino employees at Mirage are welcome to stay

Allen said current Mirage employees would be invited to keep their jobs once the property moves to Hard Rock ownership. He also added that, due to the expansion, more workers would need to be hired.

According to the agreement, Hard Rock will keep the property’s name and brand for the next three years. BetMGM will continue running the property’s race and sportsbook. The expanded and upgraded resort is expected to reopen in 2025 or 2026.

Allen also emphasized that Hard Rock signed a deal to keep Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles-themed “Love” show at the property.

During his testimony, Allen referred to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat closure. He repeated that the attractions have already closed, with dolphins, tigers and jaguars permanently relocated.