Is Demolition in the Cards for MGM's Luxor Resort and Casino?

I personally like the themed nature of the Casino Resorts in Las Vegas. I Like Circus Circus  and the Live Circus acts. I miss Treasure Island and the nightly battle of pirates and Sirens. New York New York, Paris, Excalibur and Luxor all attract me for the themed entertainment and decor.

So anytime I hear a major casino resort in Las Vegas may have plans to revamp and de-theme like Monte Carlo which is now Park MGM, Treasure Island which is now TI, Imperial Palace which is now Linq and MGM Grand forgoing its “Wizard of Oz” roots; It saddens me.

I do understand the need for remodels and updates and even them changes, but would prefer Vegas keep resorts and casinos themed.

Enough Whining... On to the rumors.

While no official announcement has been made by MGM Resorts, the iconic Las Vegas Luxor Resort and Casino could be facing demolition if the gossip is to be believed. The consideration is believed to be based on the distinctive and limiting design, which does not allow for much in the way of change. There is also some possible issues regarding inability to repair structure and talk of a MLB ballpark looking for a spot on the strip.

The same face-lift dilemma is rumored to be a topic possibly being discussed regarding the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas as well.

Luxor opened 26 years ago, on October 15, 1993. During a time when Las Vegas was much more focused on attracting families. In recent years it has tried to return to its Sin City roots. Las Vegas spent the 1990s trying to attract families by transforming into a kid friendly entertainment destination, but children don't gamble and neither do parents who are entertaining children.

Some de-theming of casinos in Las Vegas began earlier this decade and many changes have already been made at Luxor and other casinos to move away from the original themes. However, it’s nearly impossible to re-image a massive pyramid.

Sources say MGM company officials have discussed the demolition of both Luxor and Excalibur for the last five years and perhaps the COVID-19 shutdowns may contribute to rumors.

MGM Resorts’ real estate investment trust MGM Growth Properties (NYSE: MGP) owns the physical assets of Luxor.

MGM to sell Circus Circus Las Vegas for $825 million to Phil Ruffin

MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) is a holding company that owns and operates casino resorts, dining, entertainment, retail, and other amenities.

MGM has signed a deal to sell its Circus Circus Las Vegas property for $825 million to Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin.

MGM does not view Circus Circus as a core property, said Paul Salem (chairman of MGM’s real estate committee). MGM originally acquired Circus Circus Las Vegas during its acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group in 2005.

Originally opened October 18, 1968; Circus Circus Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip was built as a middle class family-fun vacation destination.  The Hotel & Casino has gaming, live Circus entertainment and The Adventuredome (a 5-acre indoor amusement park).

Ruffin said he would like to keep the Circus Circus cost friendly reputation intact. Ruffin, also owns Treasure Island and a stake in the Trump International Hotel on the Strip.

Number of rooms: 3,773
Total gaming space: 123,928 sq ft

Comparing the last three years’ performance of Circus Circus with the other Las Vegas Strip properties, Circus Circus’ EBITDA (Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) margin is 5% lower than the average.




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Sirens of Treasure Island - Pirate Show Permanently Closed

The Sirens of Treasure Island show is closed but the Pirate Ships will remain after the area in front of TI (Treasure Island) is remodeled.

Most of the Las Vegas Casino Resorts have an attraction to draw crowds in. For example, the Volcano at the Mirage, the Fountains of Bellagio, the Fall of Atlantis at Caesars Forum Shops or the Circus Show at Circus Circus.

In 1991, Wynn announced plans to create an extension of The Mirage; a Resort and Casino to be known as Treasure Island.

On October 27, 1993 canon fire signified the opening and birth of the $430 million, 2,891 room Treasure Island Hotel Resort and Casino.

Treasure Island opened offering a free family show with the HMS Britannia sailing around the corner at Skull Point to confront pirates from the Hispañiola. They ordered the pirates to surrender, the pirates refused and defended their ship in a swashbuckling battle.

In 2003, the show was rewritten (loosely based off of Homer's "Odyssey") targeting a more adult audience  and called the Sirens of TI. This show entailed a group of sensual and tempting sirens engaging with a band of pirates led by the infamous Blackbeard.

On October 20, 2013, the show was halted for what was said to be a temporary closure until December 26, during construction of retail space.

But this week, Treasure Island announced that the closure was permanent.

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Las Vegas Attractions: The Evolving Entertainment Capital of the World

Las Vegas is constantly evolving, with its iconic casinos and resorts reinventing themselves to stay ahead of the curve. Over the past two decades, several major attractions have closed, been revamped, or replaced with new high-profile experiences. Along with the permanent closure of the Sirens of Treasure Island show, other significant changes include the demolition of the iconic Stardust (2006) and Riviera (2016) to make way for Resorts World and the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion. The beloved Mirage Volcano is set to be removed as the resort transitions into the Hard Rock Hotel, featuring a massive guitar-shaped hotel tower. Meanwhile, Caesars Palace has undergone multiple renovations, and the Fountains of Bellagio continue to mesmerize visitors. Additionally, MSG Sphere at The Venetian—a next-generation entertainment venue—debuted in 2023, redefining immersive experiences with its state-of-the-art LED display and 4D effects. Whether it’s the transformation of classic casinos or the rise of new entertainment hotspots like AREA15, The LINQ Promenade, and Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas remains a must-visit destination, offering a unique blend of nostalgia and modern innovation.