Vegas Loop Gets Green Light To Expand Tesla Tunnel Stops
If you have ridden in the “Vegas Loop,” the tunnels that connect the wings of the Las Vegas Convention Center with Resorts World, you know what it is. Less subway, more some dude driving a Tesla in a tunnel just large enough to fit a Tesla. Sure it isn’t mass transit the way you’ll see in New York or Chicago, but hey. Vegas is different. Well, get ready to see even more stops around the valley. The Las Vegas Convention And Visitors Authority gave the thumbs up to expand its reach even farther.
In a meeting on Tuesday, nearly every member of the LVCVA board (less Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman) gave the blessing to Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to expand the route down Paradise and toward the Thomas & Mack Center.
Sometimes you forget how difficult it can be to walk a mere mile. Driving on the Las Vegas Strip? No, thank you! This project has already proven its concept by cutting the walk from the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall to the new West Hall. The drive from both destinations in the Vegas Loop takes one tenth the amount of time that walking does.
Where Are The Vegas Loop Tunnels Headed Next?
The current route is obviously extremely limited. However, the entire plan is growing in scale rapidly. Nearly 70 miles of tunnels are planned for the system. The Vegas Loop will expand north towards downtown and west towards Spring Mountain and Chinatown. It will also expand further south to Allegiant Stadium, the Brightline West Las Vegas stop at Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond and, eventually, make its way to the Harry Reid International Airport.
Obviously this is going to take quite a bit of time. In the short term, look for the route to open soon at the Wynn Las Vegas and Westgate Las Vegas.
Tunnel Troubles
It hasn’t been just rainbows and lollipops in the Vegas Loop. The Boring Company, tasked with literally boring the tunnels throughout the city, was recently cited by OSHA for violations at the jobsite and fined $112,000. The Boring Company is contesting those findings.
Which Las Vegas Strip Casino Implosion Should Happen Next
Sahara
It was here, gone and back again. The remodel looks great but reminders of how old the place is are everywhere.
There are some that believe if a property has a street named after it, it should be protected at all costs. The Sahara opened in 1952 and hosted many of the greats. Back in 2011, the property changed hands and eventually became the SLS Las Vegas. The rebrand was decent and the remodel was jaw dropping… but it didn’t make many waves in the city. Eventually the legendary Sahara name came roaring back, and the property has been the beneficiary of many concert events across the street at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. We like what they’ve done with the property. But at the very least the parking garage has got to go.
Circus Circus
We all know that Circus Circus is quite corny and long in the tooth. But it makes money without debt and that makes it an unlimited money glitch.
This won’t happen anytime soon, although it should. The clown property has seen better days but recently owner Phil Ruffin has put some cash into fixing the property’s iconic neon sign. Is it pretty? No. But is the property paid for and an ATM for Ruffin? Yes. The property is sitting on over 100 acres of land – about 14 more than Resorts World! That is a lot of land to do a lot of things on. But the one thing Circus Circus has going for it that Resorts World and Fontainebleau do not? Low expectations and costs.
Best Western Plus Casino Royale
Blink and you might miss it. Don’t blink and you might wish you did.
Say it with us… “blow it up!” The property is the home to Denny’s, White Castle, and likely the worst accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip. It is actually quite shocking that this could be nestled near The Venetian. Sure, people need discount options but this is centrally located land. There is speculation that the owners have bigger plans for the property. The only thing that might stop this from being an implosion is the proximity to Harrah’s. Unless…
Harrah's
With the exception of Carnival Court, Harrah’s has lost any identity on the Strip.
First, we need to save Donny Osmond. Then, send the property packing. It has been open since 1972 and now has become a bit of a forgotten child between and across from several iconic landmarks. Of all the properties we think could be erased on this list, Harrah’s and Casino Royale may take the cake. There is only so much you can update. We think if you were to keep Carnival Court and blow up the rest, many wouldn’t notice.
Flamingo
It is almost blasphemy to consider blowing this up.
Just talking about blowing up the Flamingo hurts. Yes, it is dated. Yes it is centrally located and if it were something of Resorts World or Fontainebleau’s caliber with that location they’d be a juggernaut. But… this is the Flamingo. It has a street. Is the building ugly? Sure. Is the neon incredible? You bet. Just the history alone, you can’t. Even Barbary Coast got a second (and third and fourth) life. Nevermind. We take this back.
Excalibur
Hear ye, hear ye! Tis time for this fake castle to fall!
Don’t think you got out of this unscathed, MGM Resorts. The time has come for Excalibur. Of all the properties, we might feel the most strongly about this one. The property has been the “ugh fine, it’s cheap” option for quite a while now. But there is so much space that is going unused and the theming is so weak at this point that there is no better time than now to let it rip. A new baseball stadium (supposedly) being opened across the street. The Knights. The Raiders. All walking distance. Tournament Of Kings? Thunder From Down Under? Australian Bee Gees? Please walk a safe distance away. We will find homes for you. Building? Ya gotta go.
Honorable Mention: The Strat
We don’t want to see it go, but we do want to see it blow (up).
The Las Vegas Strip technically ends at Sahara. But if you consider The Strat part of the Strip, first, sorry you’re wrong. But second, sure, we’ll give you a taste. The Strat has done some pretty great stuff lately to improve the property and their rooms. Plus the new Atomic Golf opening soon looks like it will be fun. But… we all saw that Landmark implosion. Admit it. It was cool. Imagine The Strat going down? That could be incredible! Plus, let’s face it, it would be hilarious watching half the valley get lost after losing the one landmark they use to get a grasp on where they are in the city.
