Old School Hits Vegas

Boyd Gaming Corp. has confirmed plans to demolish its Eastside Cannery property in east Las Vegas, which has remained closed since the statewide casino shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The 17-year-old property, which includes a 16-story hotel tower with 307 rooms, will be torn down, and Boyd is in discussions to sell the land for residential development.Boyd stated that market demand does not support reopening the facility. Since its closure, Boyd has spent over half a million dollars monthly on maintenance, utilities, IT, and security. The property was also used by community organizations and law enforcement for food distribution and training exercises during the pandemic.Boyd Gaming operates 10 locals and downtown casinos in Southern Nevada. The company has been monitoring market conditions along Boulder Highway, where it also owns Sam's Town to the north and is redeveloping the site of Joker's Wild Casino as Cadence Crossing to the south. Boyd purchased the Eastside Cannery site for $45 million in April 2024.The demolition of Eastside Cannery follows similar moves by Red Rock Resorts, which demolished Texas Station, Fiesta Rancho, and Fiesta Henderson after the pandemic shutdowns. The only major Southern Nevada casino property still shuttered from that era is the Colorado Belle in Laughlin

The Eagles have extended their open-ended engagement at Sphere in Las Vegas, adding four new dates in February: Feb. 20, 21, 27, and 28. These dates join their previously announced shows on Oct. 31, Nov. 1, Nov. 7, Nov. 8, Jan. 23, 24, 30, and 31. Tickets for the new February shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Pacific time on Oct. 24 via Ticketmaster.com.With this extension, the Eagles' residency now spans 52 dates, making it the longest headlining run at Sphere. The band began their Sphere residency in September 2024, surpassing the previous record of 48 shows set by Dead & Company, and 40 by U2.All three acts-The Eagles, Dead & Company, and U2-are managed by Irving Azoff and Jeffrey Azoff's Full Stop Management.These performances are a celebration of the Eagles' 1976 compilation, "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975," the best-selling album in U.S. history.Plans for an Eagles concert film are also in the works. Sphere Entertainment Chairman and CEO James Dolan confirmed, "We've already shot the Eagles show," hinting at future release plans for a concert movie

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has introduced a new online tool, the "Nevada Registration Spotter" form, allowing residents to report vehicles with expired, invalid, or missing registrations-including those with illegal out-of-state plates. Available on the DMV website, this initiative enables civilians to help identify vehicles operating unlawfully on Nevada roads.According to Compliance Enforcement Division Chief J.D. Decker, the tool addresses the many daily calls and complaints about unregistered vehicles. The DMV clarified that the form is not intended for reporting abandoned vehicles, traffic or parking violations, unsafe driving, or stolen vehicles; stolen vehicles should still be reported directly to law enforcement.All submissions will be reviewed by the DMV's Compliance Enforcement Division and shared with other law enforcement agencies as needed. Nevada is among the first states to implement such a reporting system, aiming to enhance road safety and ensure compliance with registration laws.Residents can learn more and access the Registration Spotter form at dmv.nv.gov

Las Vegas Aces fans will have the opportunity to celebrate the team's historic third WNBA title in four seasons at a championship parade scheduled for October 17. The parade will begin at 5 p.m., following a route similar to the 2023 celebration. The procession starts near the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, moves north on the Strip in a southbound lane to Park Avenue, and concludes at Toshiba Plaza in front of T-Mobile Arena.Fans can enter Toshiba Plaza beginning at 3 p.m., and the celebration will continue until 7:30 p.m. The Aces will make a red carpet entrance to the main stage at the plaza, where players and coaches will address the crowd. Championship merchandise will be available for purchase at a pop-up shop on Toshiba Plaza, opening at 4 p.m.The Aces clinched their 2025 WNBA championship by defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86, sweeping the best-of-seven series 4-0. A'ja Wilson, a four-time league MVP, earned Finals MVP honors. With this win, the Aces became the first WNBA team since the Houston Comets (1997-2000) to claim three titles in four seasons.Attendees should be aware of the following prohibited items at the event:

A'ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces cemented their dynasty status by winning their third WNBA championship in four years, completing a sweep of the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 victory in Game 4 of the Finals. Wilson, who arrived at her postgame press conference soaked in champagne and shaking a pink tambourine, celebrated the win with her trademark energy and humility, crediting her Southern Baptist roots and the strong team effort behind the historic run.Wilson finished the Finals with averages of 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks per game, earning her second Finals MVP award. She made history as the first player in WNBA or NBA history to win the scoring title, league MVP, defensive player of the year, and Finals MVP in the same season. With three championships and two Finals MVPs in eight seasons, Wilson's place among the game's greatest is increasingly unquestioned, though she humbly deferred comparisons to legends like Michael Jordan.The Aces' path to the championship was anything but smooth. Just three months before the Finals, they were 14-14 and searching for answers, including suffering a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx. But the team rallied, winning their final 16 regular-season games and finishing the year on a 25-3 run, including the playoffs. Key performances came from Chelsea Gray, who scored 18 points in the decisive Game 4, and Jackie Young, who added 18 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists.Las Vegas became the first team since the Houston Comets (1997-2000) to win three championships in a four-year span. Coach Becky Hammon praised the Aces' skill and resilience, noting how the team overcame adversity throughout the postseason. They survived winner-take-all games in the first round and semifinals, then outlasted a tough Mercury squad that had upset defending champion New York and top-seeded Minnesota en route to the Finals.Game 4 was a battle, with Phoenix rallying late despite missing leading scorer Satou Sabally and their coach, Nate Tibbetts, who was ejected in the third quarter. Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 30 points before fouling out, but the Aces' composure and Wilson's 17-of-19 free-throw shooting sealed the victory.Coach Hammon grew emotional after the win, reflecting on her pride in the team's journey and her investment in their success. The Aces' latest championship stands as a testament to their perseverance, teamwork, and star power, with Wilson at the forefront of one of the WNBA's greatest dynasties

Athletics Las Vegas Ballpark Season Ticket Pricing and Options OverviewThe Oakland Athletics are exploring a wide range of season ticket options and pricing for their upcoming $2 billion Las Vegas ballpark, as revealed in a recent fan survey. Here are the key details:Season Ticket Packages:

Cyndi Lauper is set to headline five shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in April and May, marking her first extended Las Vegas engagement. Details about the performances will be announced Monday morning.This announcement comes after Lauper's recent performance at the Hollywood Bowl on August 30, which closed her "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour." Despite the farewell tour, Lauper's career continues, now with this Las Vegas residency.Lauper, age 72, has a rich history of performing in Las Vegas, including headlining at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel (2016), MGM Grand Garden (co-headlining with Cher in 2014, and on her "True Colors" tour in 2007), the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay (2010), and Mandalay Bay Events Center (2003). She also famously dueted with Cher on "If I Could Turn Back Time" during the "VH1: Divas Las Vegas" at MGM Grand in 2002. In 2014, Lauper was the composer for the Broadway musical "Kinky Boots," which premiered at The Smith Center in Las Vegas; she became the first woman to win a Tony for best original score.Lauper became a global star with her 1983 debut album "She's So Unusual," featuring the No. 1 hit "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," as well as the top-five singles "Time After Time," "She Bop," and "All Through the Night." Subsequent albums "True Colors" (1986) and "A Night to Remember" (1989) included hits like "True Colors" and "I Drove All Night."Her final tour is chronicled in the 2024 documentary "Let the Canary Sing," available on Paramount+

The cost to build the Brightline West high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California has soared to $21.05 billion, according to a recent U.S. Transportation Department document. This marks a significant jump from the previously estimated cost of $12 billion. Brightline West, backed by Fortress Investment Group, has applied for a $6 billion federal loan through the Build America Bureau Credit Assistance Pipeline, reflecting the project's increased financial needs.A spokesperson for Brightline West confirmed the new project cost but did not provide details on the reasons behind the cost escalation. The company has already secured a $3 billion grant from the Federal Railroad Administration and has raised $2.5 billion through private activity bonds issued in both Nevada and California. Efforts to obtain additional construction loans are ongoing.Brightline West plans to construct a 218-mile high-speed rail line connecting Las Vegas (just north of Blue Diamond Road) to Rancho Cucamonga in California, with intermediate stations in Hesperia and Apple Valley. The Rancho Cucamonga station is designed to link with LA's existing Metrolink system, providing a connection to downtown Los Angeles.Preliminary work is already visible, with site grading for the Las Vegas station underway, along with the relocation of utility lines. Geotechnical work has been taking place along the I-15 corridor in both Nevada and California for over a year. Nevada Department of Transportation director Tracy Larkin Thomason expressed confidence that major construction will start early next year, following the completion of preliminary site work.The Brightline West project stands in stark contrast to California's Central Valley high-speed rail project, which recently lost $4 billion in unspent federal funds. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly supported Brightline West, highlighting it as a positive example of high-speed rail development in the United States

A 33-foot handcrafted Italian watercraft, Fortuna, was dramatically lowered by crane into the Lago di Como in front of the Bellagio casino-hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. This event marked Fortuna's maiden voyage and kicked off a publicity campaign for Carbone Riviera, a new restaurant opening this fall at Bellagio.Fortuna is part of the exclusive Riva "Anniversario" collection-only 18 exist worldwide. Soon, select guests will have the chance to ride Fortuna across the Bellagio's lake, surrounded by the famous dancing fountains.Carbone Riviera is set to take over the lakeside space previously occupied by Picasso, the renowned Julian Serrano fine-dining restaurant that operated since Bellagio's 1999 debut and closed in August.The Fortuna debut arrives as the Strip faces months of disruptions due to preparations for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, happening November 20-22. Several southbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard are closed near Bellagio, and access to fountain viewing areas along the Strip will remain limited through at least December

Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury: 2024 WNBA Finals PreviewThe Las Vegas Aces are set to face the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals, marking the first best-of-seven series in league history. The Aces, seeded second, will host the opening games at Michelob Ultra Arena, as they pursue their third consecutive championship after title wins in 2022 and 2023. The Mercury, seeded fourth, make their return to the Finals for the first time since 2021.WNBA Finals Schedule