2015 Set for Big Changes on Las Vegas Strip

Sat, Jan 3, 2015

Last year saw big changes on the strip, including The Sahara and Bill's Gamblin' Hall re-branded as SLS Las Vegas and The Cromwell, respectively. Vegas also welcomed in the game-changing Linq, featuring the mammoth High Roller Ferris wheel, largest in the world. As entrepreneurs move forward, 2015 is set to be just as impressive, with the completion of the Grand Bazaar Shops (l.) set for the early part of the year.

Now that 2014 is in the books, Las Vegas, never one to rest on its laurels, has quite a plan in store for the upcoming year. This past year saw the historic Sahara Hotel and Casino re-branded as SLS Las Vegas, while Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall received the same treatment, transforming into the chic Cromwell. It wasn’t just casinos that were in the spotlight though, as the Linq saw its birth on the Las Vegas Strip, mostly known for its High Roller, the world’s largest Ferris wheel.

While there are no plans to bring in anything new on the resort front, 2015 is set for Las Vegas to take a large step forward, as it continues the trend of developing a panoply of retail and other non-gaming options for consumers. Brent Pirosch, director of gaming consulting at CBRE’s Global Gaming Group said, “it’s not CityCenter, it’s not Encore in terms of development dollars, but in terms of driving visitation and setting Las Vegas apart from every gaming jurisdiction in the world, then yeah, I do find it pretty exciting” speaking about this year on the Strip.

“These things we’ve been seeing have been right in that kill zone. Are they subtle? Yeah, but they’re also exciting in the things they’re trying to do and the customers they’re trying to attract,” Pirosch went on the say. The next game changer on the strip will be the Grand Bazaar Shops, which has a target completion date of early 2015.

If you’ve been on the strip recently, you have probably noticed some not so subtle construction in front of Bally’s, which is where the shops will reside. Labeled an “outdoor shopping mecca,” with the “essence and excitement” of other famous open-air markets such as London’s Portobello Road, Seattle’s Pike Place, and Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.

The massive complex will feature nearly 150 shops sprawled over two acres, a multicolored rooftop design, and a “giant crystal starburst that creates a celebratory New Year’s Eve experience every midnight,” the project’s website states. A spokesperson for the project relayed that the project is in the final stages of construction.

Priosch went on to say “I think that’ll be a continuation of the trend that’s pushing things more outside, making things more social, more see-and-be-seen kind of development on the Strip, which is far different from the way it’s been.”