Ranking tops 2013
Las Vegas is at the top of the heap when it comes to nightlife. In its 2014 list of the 100 top-grossing nightclubs in the U.S., the trade publication Nightclub & Bar reported that Las Vegas has 24 clubs on the list, including seven in the Top 10.
XS at Encore came in at No. 1, according to Las Vegas Weekly. The venue made a record-shattering $95 million for the year, over the $80 million to $90 million it raked in during the previous year. Rankings are based on estimates of each venue’s total revenue in 2013.
New to the list are Hakkasan at MGM Grand and Light at Mandalay Bay, both of which have been operating for fewer than 12 months. Hakkasan is on pace to earn $90 million this year.
“Not only does our 2014 Top 100 survey show that Las Vegas has rightfully earned its reputation as the nation’s nightlife capital with 24 venues making the list, but also the results prove just how much patrons love nightlife venues across the entire country with ongoing growth in the industry,” said Jon Taffer, president of Nightclub & Bar and host of the Spike TV show “Bar Rescue.”
“Seeing our 2014 list gets my heart racing because these venues continue to push each other day after day, and I can see the concrete results of their dedicated efforts through these revenue numbers. It’s an amazing time to operate a nightclub or bar,” he said.
Overall, the industry is healthy. Nightclub & Bar says 80 percent of survey respondents said revenues are up from the year before.
Union Gaming noted that the larger clubs that play electronic dance music are the most popular and profitable. That said, “We don’t think there is much more room for this type of venue,” Union added. “We expect the focus will be more on the venue/experience and less reliant on high-priced DJs to generate foot traffic.”
