The Mirage Hotel and Casino, a longstanding institution on the Las Vegas Strip, is set to finally change hands from MGM Resorts International to Hard Rock International (HRI) by the end of this year, following HRI’s $1.08 billion acquisition of the casino’s operations in December of last year.
Naturally, in the year since the deal was first announced, patrons and investors alike have had a lot of questions about the future of the property, and how HRI plans to facilitate the transition once it receives regulatory approval to do so.
MGM recently posted an “FAQ” page on its website regarding the future of the Mirage, and before anyone gets too worked up, the company did confirm that there were “no current plans to change the volcano show,” which was the cause of much concern in recent months—some locals even filed a petition to save the iconic attraction after it was rumored to be headed for demolition.
The outgoing operator also addressed other questions about the upcoming transfer on its website, including the confirmation that all reservations that were booked during and after the change will still be honored. All perks earned via the MGM Rewards system will also be honored, including parking and check-in benefits.
Additionally, MGM casino chips and slot vouchers will also be redeemable following the transition. Don’t expect the casino floor to fully shut down, either—MGM stated on the FAQ page that “there could be downtimes after the closing of the transaction as new systems are installed but we are working diligently to mitigate any disruption.”
HRI, on the other hand, may not be in such a rush to rebrand the property, as was initially believed. Per the terms of the sale, HRI has the right to maintain the Mirage brand for up to three years, and according to a company release from July, it plans to unveil details for a “property expansion” in 2025. In the meantime, it is unclear when exactly the company will relinquish the existing brand.
In a recent statement, Joe Lupo, president of Hard Rock Las Vegas, said that the company aims to “ensure a good experience for our guests with little change or disruption.” He also noted that the property will utilize HRI’s existing Unity Rewards program.
