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Friday, April 26, 2024 75° Today's Paper


Las Vegas AdvisorTravel

MGM Resorts International sells Circus Circus for $825M

MGM Resorts International has made it official: It will sell Circus Circus to Phil Ruffin, owner of the nearby Treasure Island — TI Hotel and Casino, for $825 million. In addition to the resort, the sale includes the 5-acre ­Adventuredome indoor amusement park, the ­10-acre RV park, and the adjacent 37-acre Las Vegas Festival Grounds. The sale comes only a month after MGM sold the Rio and a deal is currently pending for the Bellagio, the jewel of the company’s resort roster.

Resort fees raised: Another month, another resort fee increase. This time it’s Caesars Palace, Nobu and the Rio. The fee has been raised by $7 per night at Caesars and Nobu, raising it to $51 (highest in town) and by $3 at the Rio, up to $40.

Sahara sports bar: The Sahara has opened Beer & Bets in the space that was previously Umami Burger. It’s being treated as a placeholder for Chickie’s & Pete’s, a Philadelphia sports bar institution since 1977 that was named the U.S.’ No. 1 sports bar in 2011 by ESPN and is scheduled to open in 2020.

Bellagio supper club: The Bellagio is replacing the ultra-lounge Hyde with an old-school restaurant called the Mayfair Supper Club. Aiming to bring back a dinner-and-show option, the club will open over New Year’s Eve weekend.

Dollar oysters: The Barrymore, a restaurant located inside the Royal Resort a block east of the Strip, has $1 oysters all night on Tuesdays. It’s a great play for oysters (there’s no limit on how many you can order) but gets a bit pricey if you stray to the other menu items.

Question: What’s the big white tent across from Ellis Island?

Answer: It’s Caesars Entertainment Studios, Nevada’s first TV production facility, which has operated somewhat under the radar since 2017. The venue has hosted the game show “Catch 21,” two seasons of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and the upcoming season of “Hell’s Kitchen.”


For more information about current Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons, and good deals, go to LasVegasAdvisor.com.


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