Nevada gaming regulators approved the Oct. 28 “soft opening” of the Circa Resort Casino and developer Derek Stevens said Thursday he’s not wasting time in marketing the first all-new hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas in 40 years.
Stevens told the Nevada Gaming Commission a national advertising campaign for the downtown Las Vegas resort – which encompasses a city block along the Fremont Street Experience – will being next week during the telecasts of the Major League Baseball playoffs.
The ads will open with a person looking out the airplane at the lights of Las Vegas.
“Circa is about moments and we’re going to create moments,” Stevens told the five commissioners, who unanimously approved the project after nearly 90 minutes of presentations and questions.
Much of the information covered during the hearing is what Stevens discussed during the Gaming Control Board hearing on Sept. 10. Gaming Commission Chairman John Moran Jr. said he was supportive opening the casino and other public areas ahead some two months ahead of the hotel, believing it would be a good boost to the city and the state.
“Something new and exciting is what we need down in Las Vegas,” said Reno-based Gaming Commissioner Deborah J. Fuetsch.
Stevens said he first discussed the idea with Control Board Chairwoman Sandra Douglass Morgan in April, roughly a month after gaming was shut down in Nevada due to COVID-19. He was then told by his construction company areas of the property he wanted to open first would be ready by October.
“In a crazy year like 2020, this is a positive,” he said, repeating a similar comment made earlier in the month.
As for the hotel, Stevens told commission only the first seven floors of the tower “would be opened and shelled out” and made available by Dec. 28. The additional room floors “would be held back for at least a year” while Stevens and his management team determine the ultimate ratio between rooms and suites.
Circa is designed for 777 rooms and suites, “a great Las Vegas number,” Stevens said.
Stevens, who also owns the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate as well as the outdoor Downtown Events Center, has never disclosed a cost for Circa, which is being built on the city block site that included the former Las Vegas Club Hotel-Casino, several smaller casinos, and a strip club.
Circa’s 982-space parking garage – dubbed Garage Mahal – is across Main Street and is connected to the resort via an above-ground pedestrian bridge.
Stevens also discussed the plans for Circa to be a 21-and-over, adult only property. However, under the lease agreement with Barry’s Downtown Prime, those under the age of 21 would be allowed in the property but will have to be escorted to and from the downstairs location by security officers.
The property’s six restaurants are all outsourced and will hire their own staffing. Stevens plans to have 1,100 employees in place by the October open date.
Circa’s showcase pieces are its fifth-floor pool deck, which will operate year-round with six temperature-controlled pools and two spas and includes a 14-million-pixel screen to show live sports and special events.
Garage Mahal will also open in October. The high-tech transportation hub includes a dedicated ride-share area and an air-conditioned bridge connector to the resort.
Circa’s two-story casino will feature 1,350 slot machines and 49 table games, while the three-story, stadium-style sportsbook will have a 78-million-pixel high-definition screen – viewable throughout the casino – with the capacity to host up to 1,000 guests.
The sportsbook, operated by Steven’s sports betting venture Circa Sports, will have a dedicated broadcast studio for the sports betting network, VSiN.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
