Las Vegas business leaders are counting on a strong bounce back in tourism by the end of 2021 and said sporting and entertainment events at Allegiant Stadium and across the city are expected to lead the recovery.
Once the coronavirus vaccine gets into arms and a herd immunity is developed by the fall, that will coincide with the Las Vegas Raiders playing before fans for the first time and the holding of concerts and other entertainment. The Golden Knights will resume play with fans at T-Mobile Arena and the National Finals Rodeo will return to the Thomas & Mack Center. The NASCAR race in September will likely have fans in the stands too.
Beyond sports, the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas in the summer provides another reason for people to visit.
“With the reopening of Allegiant Stadium for the Raiders and all of the events scheduled there, it’s exciting, and we’re thrilled about that,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority who along with Circa Las Vegas owner Derek Stevens spoke to members of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. “It’s also a driver of our recovery. Having those types of events provides some urgency and certainty with dates that people need to be there on that date.”
Hill said many leisure travelers surf the web for room rates and air fares and look for flexibility in their travel schedule. Sports fans or those attending a concert or another event, meanwhile, are locked in to come to town.
“That is a helpful driver in bringing the destination back,” Hill said.
Stevens, the former owner of the Las Vegas 51s minor league baseball team, is excited with what the year will bring to Las Vegas and its recovery from COVID-19. He said there’s a lot of pent-up demand to come to Las Vegas and that Circa, which opened its casino Oct. 28 and hotel just after Christmas, hasn’t been hurt like other properties because it doesn’t rely on convention business that will continue to lag.
“Las Vegas has always been resilient,” Stevens said. “I always thought Las Vegas was a great leading indicator of the economy in our country. Las Vegas is a city that can help lead America forward, and I would expect Las Vegas to come back at a roaring level.”
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Stevens agrees on the importance of sports helping with that recovery. He said he will be especially excited when the Raiders play on a Monday night and Thursday night because it will increase room nights on what are typically softer days. It also is free…
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