New York-New York Preps for New Entertainment District

By Scott Roeben, on September 09 2013
2 min read 1 comment
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Construction is well under way outside the New York-New York resort, in preparation for a shiny new entertainment district.

We're so happy to see construction on The Strip again. Vegas newness!
We’re so happy to see construction on The Strip again. Vegas newness!

The walkway between New York-New York and MGM Grand remains open, providing a convenient, bird’s-eye view of the work-in-progress.

Sans tugboat.
The former home of tugboats.

MGM Resorts, the company that operates New York-New York and other Strip resorts, says it’s creating a new “Stripside experience” along the front of New York-New York and Monte Carlo, in conjunction with building a new 20,000-seat arena.

Here’s a peek at what the whole deal will look like when it’s done.

What are those green things with leaves?
What are those green things with leaves?

A new outdoor plaza will encourage social interaction, which in Las Vegas parlance translates as “a mall where you can buy things.”

We’re not sure we get the whole “being outdoors” thing, as it seems to be what we call “the opposite of Las Vegas,” but we do like new things, so we’ll reserve judgment for the moment.

The hotel’s official news release says, “New York-New York will modify its skyline and Brooklyn Bridge to create a wonderful environment brought to life through a vibrant patio culture and retailers new to the market.” Who doesn’t love a “vibrant patio culture,” whatever that might actually be?

In the meantime…

Look, an annoying construction detour. Just like the real New York City.
Look, an annoying construction detour. Just like the real New York City.

A casualty of the new construction has been New York-New York’s September 11 memorial. The “shrine” appeared organically after 9/11, with first responder T-shirts and handwritten notes, and hotel reps say it will relocate the memorial.

OK, we’ll say it: A 9/11 memorial at a Las Vegas casino is a buzzkill. When you think of The Strip, do you think “reverent remembrance”? There’s a time and place for everything, and we’re not sure a Strip casino is the right place for any kind of memorial. It’s just awkward. Disagree? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

On a brighter note, an anchor of the new plaza will be a Hershey’s Chocolate World store, called an “experiential destination” because calling it “a chocolate store” just isn’t the Las Vegas way.

Yeah, so not really a suitable place for a 9/11 memorial.
Less reverence, more excess.

Also in the works is a Shake Shack, which we can only assume will be a game-changing, interactive, experiential burger and shake restaurant.

Thankfully, the bridge isn't going anywhere.
Thankfully, the bridge isn’t going anywhere.

This whole deal, of course, is in response to Caesars Entertainment’s outdoor promenade and entertainment cavalcade, The Linq. You know, the one with the giant Ferris wheel.

As gambling revenues have declined over time, casino companies are pulling out all the stops to provide new spaces and places for Las Vegas visitors to hang out and hopefully buy more food, liquor and things they’ll never use once they get back home.

If more hotels would provide handy peepholes, we wouldn't have to breach security so often.
If more hotels would provide handy peepholes like these, we wouldn’t have to breach security so often.

Read all about the renovations happening at New York-New York, and enjoy more photos from the construction site.

New York-New York Construction